The feeling of collegiate volleyball is one that hasn't been felt in Southwest Mississippi for over 50 years.
This weekend, that feeling will be no more as the Southwest Bears make their return to play for the first time since 1973.
Leading the charge is head coach Chris Laird, who explains that getting ready for the upcoming season has been quite a process as he works to find his right rotation.
"We want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity and everyone will play throughout the season," he said. "Hopefully they will be there when we need to contribute."
As far as what he is looking for in his players, he wants to make sure that they check many boxes and play up to his style.
"We are going to have one (team) that is fast-paced, that is up-tempo, that is defensive-minded and have a good time on the bench so hopefully that will transfer to the floor and that will transfer to the fans so hopefully they will enjoy the product that we are putting out there," he said.
At Laird's disposal is a very-talented roster of 14, consisting of just two sophomores. Outside hitter Gracie Amacker, who starred on the pitch last season for Southwest Women's Soccer made the switch to volleyball. She joins transfer and middle hitter Haley Eckert as the upperclassmen of the group.
They are joined by a host of skillful freshmen including defensive specialists/liberos Kelis Parker, Dylan Carroll and Allie Mitchell, outside hitters Reagan Robinson and Saylor Hammond; middle hitters AnnaLeigh Robbins, Berta Soules and Abby Greenlee; right-side hitters Allie Heathcock and Tierra Martin and setters Hattie Tynes and Ava Davis.
A big part of Laird's preparation is getting the players used to working with each other. Tynes and Carroll are the lone high school teammates, as both come from Purvis High School.
"We have 13 different high schools represented and it takes time for all of them to get on the same page and they all come from different skill levels and different competition areas," he said. "Getting them all on the same page has probably been the biggest challenge, but they are doing the best they can to do with what we teach."
A number of the girls on the roster are listed with multiple positions. Laird adds that he always likes to have versatility amongst his team.
"It is very important," he said. "You just never know or can prepare for an injury. You just hope that if somebody goes down, you've trained the next person up so they can be ready to go."
The Bears will face some tough competition in their first season including non-conference opponents in Reid State and Snead State in addition to conference opponents in Itawamba and Jones.
Joining Laird on the sideline is former William Carey Crusader Lainey Brumfield, someone who Laird is excited to have by his side.
"She is very, very good, very attentive," he said. "She is certainly organized and it helps that she has played on the collegiate level. First of all, she is just a great person to be around. I don't know if I could have been any luckier. She is going to do great things."
The Bears kick off the 2025 regular season Friday at the Itawamba Tournament facing Bevill State at 1 p.m.
