Meridian’s Barlow signs with Oakwood University

Published 4:58 pm Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Meridian High senior Alaysia Barlow signs a letter of intent to play volleyball at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, after graduation. Photo by Thomas Howard

The Meridian High School Lady Wildcats softball team celebrated one of their own Wednesday as senior Alaysia Barlow signed a letter of intent to continue the sport at the college level. In a ceremony at the school’s multipurpose building, Barlow announced she plans to attend Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, come fall.

Meridian High volleyball player Alaysia Barlow sits for a photo with her family and teammates after signing a letter of intent with Oakwood University on Wednesday at the MHS multipurpose building. Photo by Thomas Howard

“I feel amazing. I feel great. I feel a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I feel like I’m going to be great going forward into this, and it’s just a great opportunity, and I just thank God and my teammates and my coaches for getting me here,” she said.

Barlow said she chose Oakwood after seeing the campus and meeting the coach on a visit. Being several hours from home, she said she felt safe at the university and that support will be there if she needs it.

Volleyball coach Mark Davis said Barlow is the seventh Meridian High signee to move on to the next level since 2020. That year saw many Mississippi schools launch or grow volleyball programs to replace slow-pitch softball, which was discontinued by the Mississippi High School Activities Association.

Davis said seeing students grow into competitive players and move on to play at the college level never gets old.

“That’s something that you never get tired of,” he said.

Planning to pursue a career as a criminal justice lawyer, Barlow plans to major in political science and pre-law at Oakwood to lay the foundation for law school down the road.

Looking back to her younger years playing softball as a small child, Barlow said her advice to her younger self and upcoming players is to keep pushing and not give up.

“Stay motivated. Don’t ever give up, stay determined and keep putting the work in,” she said. “Because one day your hard work is gonna pay off.”