Brookhaven came up short against West Marion Monday night. Ole Brook lost three sets to one to open the 2023 volleyball season.  

Head Coach Charlton Grey said small mistakes cost his team a win in their home opener. A slow start might have cost the first set as West Marion won the opening set 25-16. 

Brookhaven responded in the second set and won 25-14. West Marion looked rattled going into the third set, but a series of seven or eight errors by Brookhaven allowed the Trojans to win 25-21. Brookhaven trailed early in the final frame as East Marion finished the night with a 25-16 set win. 

“Those errors flipped the ball game. We got stagnant instead of moving,” Grey said. “I could tell they were a little nervous with it being the first home game. They played so well against Richland in our scrimmage. We pulled it off then, but tonight we didn’t.” 

He was still proud of his team for the fight they showed. Addyson Grace Foster, Bailey Gamble and Olivia Smith provided moments of brilliance for the Panthers. The squad has the elements of a great team. 

Grey said they are a young team. He can see their hunger. Ole Brook has grown a lot in the summer leading up to this point. Foster, Smith and Gamble have all grown into leading roles on the team. 

“They have all grown a lot in the summer. This is the year. I tell them ‘you have to make the next step. I can show you all day, but you have to make the next statement,'” Grey said. “Bailey Gamble always gives everything. They all give what is inside of them. Olivia serves well, and sometimes Addy can serve it well too. We have to be consistent. You have to make adjustments. All of them played well tonight. We just came up a little short.” 

The match against West Marion was tense and an emotional roller coaster. Panther fans should try to make it out to a game to support their girls.

Ole Brook travels to play at Franklin County Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The panthers have road games at McComb and Ridgeland before playing host to Terry on August 15 with first serve set for 6:15 p.m.