The Jacksonville Eagles, defending two-time state champions, started out this volleyball season the same way they finished out the last, with wins.

Last Thursday, the first official day that volleyball matches could begin, Jacksonville traveled to Pleasant Valley and picked up wins over the Lady Raiders, 25-16, 25-16 and Oxford, 26-24, 25-19.

Seniors Caroline Neisler and Taylor Palmer led the way for Jacksonville picking up 15 kills each while senior Meagan Cabrer had 38 assists and sophomore Haley Jackson started out her varsity career with 12 kills.

On Saturday the Lady Eagles traveled to Montgomery and won the silver division at the Capitol City Jubilee.

Jacksonville swept Montgomery Academy, Jeff Davis and Elmore County while losing to 6A Murphy 2-1 in pool play. Murphy went on to win the gold division.

In the silver division playoffs the Lady Eagles rebounded by sweeping Alabama Christian Academy and Lawrence County.

Coach David Clark was pleased with his team's efforts, "The Murphy game could have gone either way, and it was very close.

"I feel good about where we are right now; there are still things of course that we need to do better. My young kids are coming along.

"To beat a good team like Montgomery Academy and compete with a 6A school was a good start to the season."

After dropping their opening two matches to county powerhouse teams Jacksonville and Oxford, Pleasant Valley shook off their opening game jitters to win the Saks Invitational on Saturday.

The Lady Raiders went 3-0 in pool play and then defeated Wellborn in the semi-finals 25-11, 25-18 before beating Alexandria 25-12, 24-26, 15-12 to claim the championship.