Last year was a run for the ages for South Walton volleyball. After being on the cusp of greatness for years, the Lady Seahawks made the Final Four for the first time in 10 years.
This season the program has shown no signs of slowing down, in spite of everything it has been dealt.
South Walton has lost key seniors to serious injuries, including outside hitter and Southern Miss commit Maci Jones and setter Evelyn Brandman, and it was moved down to a loaded Class 3A. All of that makes the Lady Seahawks’ 15-5 record even more impressive. Monday proved the team is back, with a dominant 3-1 road win over Choctaw, and South Walton followed it Tuesday with a 3-1 win at Pace.
“It’s been a challenge. I feel like when we get somebody back, we lose somebody else,” head coach Meghan Allen said. “Having Maci Jones back in the lineup is good. She’s at 70% right now, but everybody’s stepping up. It’s next man up mentality.”
While Jones was out, multiple players stepped up, starting with senior Sydney Downing. Downing is a Destin transfer who was previously with the program, and she has made her mark with 155 kills, 138 digs, 26 assists and 14 blocks.
“She’s been huge for us, not just on the court, but keeping things light,” Allen said.
Senior Corinne O’Connell, a key member of last year’s Final Four run, is back and has 122 kills, 137 digs and 20 assists.
“She’s fantastic. She does everything I ask her to,” Allen said.
Senior libero Lindsay McMahan is a stout defender with 147 digs, and she can also run the floor, with 28 assists so far.
“She’s been flying around like crazy, great attitude, always composed,” Allen said.
Junior Ava Hummel and sophomore Henley Beauchamp anchor a stout wall at the net from the middle, with 41 and 27 blocks, respectively. Senior middle hitter Laurali Douglass also contributes as a blocker.
“Ava and Henley are huge for us. They do a really good job of putting up a good block for us, and offensively, they are strong too,” Allen said.
Overall, Allen is most impressed by how the team has battled through adversity. Speaking before Tuesday’s win at Pace, she pointed to the first meeting with Choctaw, a 3-2 home loss on Sept. 8.
“14-5 does not tell the whole story about us and the challenges that we faced,” Allen said. “The first time we played Choctaw, we were down four starters. We felt like we could’ve squeaked that one out still.”
Allen wants to see the team keep getting comfortable as more players step into bigger roles.
“We have a lot of returners who are used to playing next to one another, but when you lose some pieces, you have to find that rhythm again,” she said.
Even so, another Final Four run could be in the cards for the Lady Seahawks.
