The Vicksburg High sideline leaped in excitement as Virgie Demby came up with big plays at the net late in Thursday’s match against Yazoo County. The Missy Gators’ excitement came not just from her effort, but what it led to.

Demby scored three of the final points needed to seal a doubleheader sweep of Yazoo County. That gave the Missy Gators the first winning streak — three games — in the program’s five-year history.

“They got it together. They came back and ended up winning the second two games 25-4 and 25-6,” Vicksburg coach Aimee Scribner said. “It was a sweep so I couldn’t complain about that. That’s the first time those girls have ever done that.”

Demby, the starting goal keeper for Vicksburg’s soccer team, is in her first season as a volleyball player. The transition from a ground-focused sport in soccer, to an aerial sport like volleyball has been an adjustment.

“Playing with my feet and transitioning into playing with my hands and not kicking the ball is kind of hard,” Demby said. “I play with my head sometimes at practice trying to keep the ball off the floor. It’s very hard but fun.”

Scribner said Demby still needs to work on her serving skills, but is developing into a solid player.

“I recruited her from soccer and she is an impressive kid,” Scribner said. “She works very, very hard in practice. She shows up to work every day on time ready to work, ready to learn. I can’t ask for a better player now.”

The rest of the Missy Gators are playing pretty well, too. They won the first three-set match in the program’s history on Tuesday night, then followed it up with the sweep two days later. Their next game is Tuesday at home against Ridgeland at 6 p.m.

Yazoo County doesn’t have a junior varsity team, so the teams played two varsity matches Thursday.

Scribner used a smaller lineup in the second match, but the Missy Gators were still able to maintain their net defense and pull out a close 25-23 victory in the first game.

Serving was the story in the second game. Senior Destiny Allen powered through a couple of serves, leaving Yazoo County scrambling for returns.

“The strength pretty much comes from training for basketball and track. I feel good about my serves,” said Allen, a three-sport star for VHS.

Scribner praised the strength of Allen and how it benefits her game as an all-around setter. Scribner also has to work on where Allen serves the ball on the court. Because of her strength she wants Allen to stand near a painted “G” on the court to help keep the ball inbounds.

When the offense is flowing the team plays with a lot of intensity and hustle. Allen said it’s going to take positive attitudes to keep it up moving forward.

While the offense was flowing, it wasn’t without hiccups. Miscommunication was a factor on the court with players running into each other, costing the girls several points.

“We’ve come up with several different communication drills that we are still trying to work on,” Scribner said. “Now we’ve got to go back to the drawing board and figure out another drill.”