VOLLEYBALL: Lady Indians nail down first conference victory

Du Quoin picked up their first conference victory of the season on Thursday night, holding off Sparta in three sets 7-25, 25-23, 25-21 at home.

The Lady Indians were overwhelmed by the Bulldogs in the opening set and trailed the second 20-17 before catching fire.

"It feels amazing," said DHS head coach Jo Dill. "I'm so happy for my girls and so proud of them. It has been a really tough road in terms of so many close losses. I think we came in the first game just not really mentally in it, and Sparta was still playing well. We kind of got knocked back on our heels a little bit. The second and third games our girls relit that fire and truly came out playing exactly the way I know that they can play."

Du Quoin did it with defense, recording a season-high 49 digs as a team, 15 of those coming from Jordyn Bullar. Kenzie Jackson and Taylor Gates each added 8.

"Our girls' defense tonight was awesome," Dill said. "There were balls that I know Sparta was thinking were down and the girls were popping everything up. We were just picking up a lot of stuff. Credit Sparta for playing well without their big middle. They made us earn it."

Jackson led the team in kills with 11, Rylea McDonald had 7. Alaina Caldwell finished with 14 assists.

Du Quoin will host Anna-Jonesboro on Tuesday.