I get tired of Memphis-area volleyball coaches telling me that the volleyball played by teams in DeSoto County - more specifically at Olive Branch and Southaven - just isn’t as good as that of our Tennessee teams. They tell me that Mississippi volleyball doesn’t compare to Tennessee’s in terms of overall quality, and therefore, teams south of the Tennessee state line don’t deserve to be ranked in The CA’s volleyball top five.

That’s why I want to give some props to Collierville coach Lisa Lewis and Southaven coach Allison Burchyett for scheduling a home-and-home series this season. As evidenced by their 1-1 split (both teams won, 3-0, on their home floor), Tennessee and Mississippi perhaps aren’t so distant when it comes to the quality of high-school volleyball.

Lewis said every year she’d now like to schedule Olive Branch and Southaven because they represent the best Mississippi has to offer, and that makes a lot of sense. Here’s hoping more Memphis-area coaches follow suit rather than bad-mouthing their counterparts to the south.