Lady Eagles win five in a row to reach 13-5

Wheeler is playing its best volleyball of the season at exactly the right time.

The Lady Eagles are 13-5 with a 38-20 set record, and they have won five consecutive matches. Wheeler’s MVPI rating of 55.2 ranks No. 106 statewide and No. 15 in Class 1A.

The streak began Aug. 25 with a 3-0 sweep of Hickory Flat at home, followed by a 3-0 win at the Tupelo Titans on Aug. 27 and a 3-1 win at Biggersville on Sept. 1.

Then came the best win of Wheeler’s season. On Sept. 8 the Lady Eagles hosted Pine Grove — the team that had beaten them 2-0 back on July 25 in the opening week — and won a five-set fight 3-2. Wheeler closed the run with a 3-0 sweep of Thrasher on Sept. 10.

The early schedule was unforgiving. Wheeler played Itawamba Agricultural, Starkville Academy and Mantachie in a three-match span on Aug. 8, going 1-2 on the day. The Lady Eagles lost a five-setter to Potts Camp on Aug. 11 and were swept by Booneville in tournament play Aug. 22.

In between, they beat the two other Prentiss County teams with winning records. Wheeler took down New Site 3-2 on Aug. 6 — still the Royals’ only loss in regular match play — and beat Baldwyn 3-1 on Aug. 17.

Wheeler also avenged its Mantachie defeat, winning 3-2 on the road Aug. 20. Counting Pine Grove, that is two of the season’s five losses turned around in rematches.

Five straight wins, a set margin of +18 and victories over both of the county’s other winning programs: the Lady Eagles have built a real case as one of Class 1A’s more dangerous teams heading into October.