Northwest volleyball wins 41st straight game to reach NJCAA final eight
The Lady Rangers defeated Lurleen B. Wallace on Sunday, becoming the first Mississippi program to qualify for the Division II national tournament.
By Ella Cox ·
Northwest Mississippi Community College volleyball players completed a 41-game winning streak on Sunday when they defeated No. 15 Lurleen B. Wallace in four sets. The victory secured the Gulf South District championship and marked the first time a Mississippi team has qualified for the NJCAA Division II National Championship Tournament.
Head coach Allison Burchyett’s squad now holds a 40-0 record in regular season and conference play, with a perfect 10-0 mark in MACCC competition. Northwest joins top-ranked Kirkwood Community College from Iowa as one of only two teams in the nation with unblemished records this year. The Lady Rangers also became the first Mississippi program to record more than 40 wins in a single season.
Burchyett cited the team’s balanced offensive structure as a key factor in their success. She stated that her hitters can strike from the outside, middle, and right side, making it difficult for opponents to predict the ball’s destination. The coach noted that the team’s defensive ability to keep rallies alive often frustrates opposing squads.
The program has existed for only seven years, launching in 2020 under Burchyett. Northwest joined the MACCC for volleyball in 2024, winning the conference championship during that inaugural season. The team’s current 36-0 regular season record and Region 23 championship title formed the foundation for this weekend’s district win.
The Lady Rangers will travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to compete in the national tournament. The event runs from November 18 to November 21. No Mississippi school has ever won a volleyball national title.
A selection show will determine Northwest’s seeding on Wednesday. The result will place the team in its specific bracket for the upcoming championship weekend.
