Introducing our WXXV Student Athlete of the Week, George County Volleyball’s Aryana Dixon!

On Tuesday, the George County Lady Rebels swept Picayune to advance to the second round of playoffs and continue their best season to date. Currently in class 6A region 3, the Lady Rebels were undefeated in district play with a 24-10 overall record

“I’m very proud of our team because we’ve made a bunch of history in a bunch of different ways,” said Senior, middle hitter Aryana Dixon. “I don’t think we’ve ever won district, and then to go undefeated in district makes it even sweeter plus Blakely’s 1,000 career digs, and Lani, Jordyn and my 500 career kills just makes it even better because it’s my senior season and these are my best friends that I’ve been playing with since seventh grade and my coach that I’ve had since middle school, so it’s just so much fun.”

Speaking of history, before her senior season even started, middle hitter Aryana Dixon was the first Lady Rebel volleyball player to be chosen an all-star by the Mississippi association of Coaches.

“I’m very grateful that I got the opportunity to play up there and it was a really good experience. I loved the team and the south hadn’t won for years before we won this past summer which made it even better,” said Dixon. “I’m glad I have my coaches that support me along the way and my family and my parents.”

Along with the support from her family and friends, Dixon says the love for the game motivates her to do her best on the court.

“The love that I have for volleyball is unreal,” said Dixon. “I look forward to practicing every single day and I don’t dread doing anything that revolves around volleyball. I love club, and I just think my friends and coaches just make it way better. I just love the people that I’m around daily. I don’t mind spending 8am practices with them because I’m not a morning person, but I’ll come up here and do this with them because I love the sport and them.”

Not only does Dixon enjoy sharing the court with her girls, but she also enjoys bringing out the best versions of them, which she hopes to do in the second round of playoffs this Thursday.

“My way of trying to lead the team reminds me of my sophomore year whenever we played Long Beach. We were the underdog and we weren’t expected to win, they were essentially better than us, so I think I’m trying to get my team back to that underdog mentality and having the grit and I think we do,” Dixon said. “We’ve made it to the same spot the past two years and we are a high performing playoff team, so we want to take the next step and go even further.”

Dixon knows exactly how to get to that next step, winning two softball state championships, most recently as their lead-off and center fielder. She’s got two rings on her hand, but right now all eyes are set on her third, and the first ever for the volleyball program.

“Winning in volleyball would just mean so much to me because our group is the only team to win two in softball already and nobody’s ever won it in volleyball, so I just want me and my group to keep making history,” Dixon said with a smile.

After her high school career ends, she won’t be hanging up the court shoes or her cleats as she’ll be continuing both her volleyball and softball career and Pearl River Community College. We look forward to covering her collegiate journey as a Wildcat!