The first season of volleyball at Warren Central has been everything and more for junior Mary Hall.

Back in January, Hall began a petition drive to bring the sport to the Vicksburg Warren school district. Eight months later, the Warren Central volleyball team is a reality. On Thursday, the Lady Vikes play their first home game when Yazoo City visits at 5 p.m.

“Honestly, it has been better than I can imagine,” Hall said Tuesday as the Lady Vikes went through practice in the school’s gym.

Thursday’s match with Yazoo City will mark the first time the Lady Vikes will step on the refurbished court that has been fitted with volleyball lines and a new Viking centerpiece logo at mid-court.

Lady Vikes volleyball coach Greg Head, who has coached the WC boys soccer team for the past three years, said his team is anxious to play a home game.

“It will be the first time for us on the new floor,” Head said. “We had to work out at other places when they redid the floor. We’ve had to practice in the B Gym, or at the YMCA or Beechwood (Elementary). I’ve been impressed with how hard the girls have worked since the first day of practice. We also owe a lot to the school district for getting us here.”

The team has quickly become competitive. All 16 players had little or no volleyball experience, but the team has a 3-4 record.

“We’re much better than I figured we’d be,” Hall said. “It’s definitely been a big change for me, to be on an athletic team, but I’ve enjoyed it so much.”

So have Hall’s teammates. Two of the three team captains, Taylor Willis and Jazmine Carter, are basketball players.

“It’s been amazing we’ve advanced so fast, and most of us had never played it before,” said Willis, a junior. “It’s been fun. I see where it can help my basketball skills. I do a lot of jumping and that will help me get more rebounds.”

As a volleyball player, Willis’ jumping ability has aided the team at the net as the team’s top striker.

“She leads us in kills,” Head said. “We have some pretty good athletes on this team and the big thing is they hustle. I would say we’ve outhustled every team we’ve played.”