The Girls Varsity Volleyball team won its fourth straight District Championship Nov. 5 in front of a rousing home crowd. They soundly defeated Detroit Renaissance in straight sets with scores of 25-8, 25-21, 25-19.

"It feels really, really good to win districts four years in a row," said senior Noelle Hairston, still sweating from the game and surrounded on the field house floor by family, friends and teammates.

The Lady Jays’ domination of the district began in 2007 when they defeated Berkley High School for the title. The route continued as they defeated Renaissance in 2008 and Ferndale in 2009.

Team Captain Amanda Love said, "I’m fired up and ready for regionals."

But her mother, Coach Alisha Love, said the win was bittersweet because it is her last year coaching her daughter, Amanda, who will graduate this year. Amanda Love is the last of the four Love athletes to graduate from Southfield High.

Coach Love said the girls on the team are "the cream of the crop" and she loves the fans at Southfield because they really "represent."

The spirited crowd included a senior contingent sporting empty pizza box signs decorated with team member names and jersey numbers.

No other Southfield High team has had such an era of success in recent memory.

Junior Jade Ware, who was all smiles, said, "I’m very excited for the victory and to play with a group of girls that I love."

Senior Jasmine Emanuel had even more to celebrate than the rest of her team. Not only did her team win districts that day, but she was also accepted to Michigan State University earlier that day and turned 17. "It’s been a great day; it was special because it was my birthday."

The Lady Jays’ overall record is 22-17-4.

Looking ahead toward regionals, Coach Love said, The girls should be ready to tighten up their hats because nothing will be given to us." She suggests that if they do, "Then it’s anybody’s game."