Girls' volleyball gym in the works at OGHS

Ground will be broken within a few weeks on a $1.2 million girls' volleyball facility at Oak Grove High School.

Members of the Warrior Club, including Brett and Deanna Favre, have raised about $700,000 to complete Phase 1 of the project. The Favres' daughter is a sophomore at the high school and an avid volleyball player.

Warrior Club member Mitch Brent is excited about providing the facility for the girls.

"What a wonderful deal to be working on a project like this for the ladies," he said. "The need grows from the gym at the school — nine different teams have to practice there — three volleyball teams and six basketball teams.

"Volleyball can't practice during school hours because basketball is using it."

Phase 1 will consist of the gymnasium and everything the girls need to play there, while Phase 2 will be the locker rooms, players' lounge, storage facilities and other extras. Mike Rozier Construction is the builder.

Girls volleyball coach Kelsea Seymour said the new facility illustrates the importance volleyball now has at the school.

"It shows a change in the culture of sports around here," she said. "There are a lot of young girls playing here. Having a facility — it's going to help our program grow. It's going to help the community see that volleyball is an up-and-coming sport for girls."

Seymour said she'll be able to host tournaments on a one-court set-up in the new gym, while the girls can practice on a two-court set-up. In the current gym, there isn't room for two courts.

Superintendent Tess Smith said she is overjoyed with the Warrior Club's offer of a new gym for the volleyball team.

"I can't imagine another superintendent would be sitting here and someone would say, 'We're going to give you a million dollar building,' " she said. "I will probably never be able to be involved in a project like this again. How often does this happen?"

Smith said the girls would be sharing their gym with other sports including cheer, dance and indoor drumline.

Phase 1 of the project could be completed by June.

How to help

• Make out checks to: The Warrior Club/Volleyball

• Mail to: Mitch Brent, 6614 U.S. 98 West, Suite D, Hattiesburg, MS 39402