Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4 The first regular season volleyball match for Southwest in over 50 years took place over the weekend as part of tournament play as the Bears went up against four tough opponents from Alabama in Bevill State, Calhoun, Wallace State and Northwest Shoals at the Mississippi-Alabama tournament hosted by Itawamba.
 
And despite competing hard in each match, the Bears unfortunately did not come out victorious falling in Friday's matches against Bevill State (14-25, 25-21, 25-13, 23-25, 13-15) and Calhoun (16-25, 14-25, 9-25) and in Saturday's against Wallace St. (25-20, 9-25, 17-25, 12-25) and Northwest Shoals (21-25, 25-16, 22-25, 25-22, 14-16).
 
Even though the matches are losses on paper, Southwest head coach Chris Laird came away from the tournament with plenty of positives but adds that there is room for improvement.
 
"We saw that we can play with some great teams," he said. "And we really have to work on closing the door when we have an opportunity."
 
Southwest not only faced tough competition over the weekend but had to do so, shorthanded.
 
"It is the fact that we just don't have that much depth," he said. "We have a middle that's out, an outside hitter that is out and those are significant players. It is tough to rotate kids in and out when you don't have a bench."

The Bears will be back in action on Wednesday at Pearl River at 6 p.m.