Lady Bulldogs begin exhibition play Friday

RIDGELAND --- The Holmes Community College Lady Bulldogs return 10 players from the 2023-24 team that shared the MACCC title and made it to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in Tucson, Ariz. before falling in the semifinals. The Lady Bulldogs begin exhibition play Friday at Nicholls State University.

Holmes, who finished 19-3 overall and 10-1 in the MACCC, has appeared in four straight NJCAA Division II National Tournaments and made it to the championship game in two of those.

The Lady Bulldogs returning players include: K.K. Morris, midfielder, Brandon; Sammi Doyle, forward, New Albany; Aiyana Jones, defender, Oxford; Kristen Phillips, forward, Collinsville; Olivia Tribolet, forward, Madison; Christina Guzman, defender, Florence; Addi Roberts, goalkeeper, Florence; Meagan Spencer, defender, Florence; Bailee Fairley, forward, Collinsville; and Stevie Kerns, midfielder, Gulfport.

Phillips led the Lady Bulldogs in points last season with 73 including 31 goals and 11 assists. Tribolet had 17 goals and 10 assists while Fairley had 14 goals and 10 assists, Morris had six goals and seven assists, Guzman had 3 goals and seven assists, Doyle had five goals and six assists, Kerns had one goal and two assists, and Jones had one goal.

Roberts played 990 minutes in goal and had 65 saves and gave up 10 goals on the season.   

Newcomers include: Katie Smith, goalkeeper, Meridian; Brooklynn Samonski, forward, Nottingham, N.J.; Brenna Sanford, defender, Richland; Rivers Gilreath, defender, Brandon; Kaylee Avant, midfielder, Decatur; Daysha Taylor, defender, Navarre, Fla.; Morgan Walberg, defender, Madison; Abigail DeAngelo, forward, Baton Rouge, La.; Kate DeAngelo, midfielder, Baton Rouge, La.; Anna Beth Korhonen, forward, Foley, Ala.; Emma Korhonen, forward, Foley, Ala.; Jacie Rouse, defender, Brandon; and Akala Jacobs, forward, Madison. Smith is a sophomore transfer from East Central while other players are freshmen.

Wesley Noble returns as head coach of the Lady Bulldogs. Rafael Costa has joined the Holmes family as assistant for both the women's and men's team. Taylor Leddy returns as the goalkeeper coach along with volunteers Miguel Molina and Sarah Keeton Odom.

The remaining schedule includes:
Aug. 15, at LSU-Eunice#
Aug. 19, at Mississippi College#
Aug. 23, at Dallas-Brookhaven
Aug. 27, at Northwest CC vs. Heartland
Aug. 30, at Pensacola State College
Sept. 7, in Champaign, Ill. vs. Parkland
Sept. 8, in Champaign, Ill. vs. Northeast, NE.
Sept. 13, vs. Southern Union State
Sept. 17, at Hinds*
Sept. 20, vs. Jones*
Sept. 24, at Itawamba*
Sept. 27, at Southwest*
Oct. 4, at Pearl River*
Oct. 8, vs. East Central*
Oct. 11, vs. Northwest*
Oct. 15, vs. Copiah-Lincoln*
Oct. 22, vs. Gulf Coast*
Oct. 25, at Meridian*
Oct. 29, at East Miss.*

#Exhibition *MACCC