Get ready for some digs, sets and spikes.

Volleyball at Warren Central could start this fall thanks to the efforts of an enterprising sophomore.

Mary Hall, who will be a junior in the fall, started a petition drive earlier this year to make volleyball a varsity sport for the Lady Vikes.

Hall’s efforts appear closer to realization as Vicksburg Warren School District superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Duran Swinford said she is planning to bring volleyball up for a budget vote in the May 26 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Hall impressed Swinford with a petition with 45 signatures.

“I’ve always been pretty outgoing, so getting people to express their interest in getting up a volleyball team was pretty easy for me,” said Hall, who just wrapped up her sophomore year last week. “I knew I needed to talk with Dr. Swinford before I did anything and I felt like I got her on my side. I also went out into the community and got some more support.”

Hall said volleyball was a sport she played in physical education class and at home with her family, but felt there was a bigger need for another varsity sport for the girls.

“I wanted to do something that girls could play and that was volleyball,” Hall said. “It’s something different. No other school in the county plays it. I used to play it lot when I was little. And then I’ve picked it up again because my family likes to play it a lot.”

Several schools in central Mississippi play the sport like Madison Central and Clinton. Madison Central has hosted the Mississippi High School Activities Association volleyball tournament for over a decade. Participation in volleyball is also growing while the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s other fall sport for girls, slow-pitch softball, is fading.

Swinford was quick to point out that volleyball is not a replacement for slow-pitch softball.

“Not at all,” Swinford said. “I played softball and volleyball when I was in high school. I want to keep softball but add volleyball to give our kids another sport they can enjoy.”

Jasmine Luster, who’ll be a ninth grader next fall, was one of the girls who signed up on Hall’s list.

“I played it in junior high and liked it,” Luster said.

For Hall, it’s volleyball or bust. She has never played any other sport.

“Volleyball is my thing,” Hall said.

Warren Central principal Rodney G. Smith said Hall’s efforts in ramping-up interest should be commended.

“She’s got folks interested,” Smith said. “I think there is a good chance we will have a volleyball team this fall. We’re still in that initial phase. We have to get the funding approved and then hire a coach. But it’s something I’d love to see. We’ve talked about adding it, but we needed to gauge the interest. Mary spearheaded that drive.”

If the funding is approved, Warren Central will then look for coaches to direct Hall’s crew.

“I’ve heard they’ve got some people in mind,” Hall said. “One of my friend’s moms played volleyball in college. Getting the funding is a big thing, though. It costs $5,000 to field a team, but there are lots of things we can do to help out.”