CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College volleyball team takes a break from Gulf South Conference action to take part in the South Region Crossover between the GSC and Sunshine State Conference this weekend in Carrollton, Ga.
MC (2-17) opens the Crossover on Friday, Oct. 16 against Rollins College at 11:15 a.m. followed by a 6 p.m. outing versus Embry-Riddle. The Lady Choctaws conclude the two-day event on Saturday, Oct. 17 against Florida Tech at 1:30 p.m.
The weekend encounters mark the first in the series between Mississippi College and its three opponents. MC looks to snap a six-game skid coming into the Crossover. The Lady Choctaws last win came at The Coliseum on the University of West Georgia campus, where the weekend's action will take place.
"We're excited about this weekend at the South Region Crossover and playing teams from our region outside of the GSC," said head coach
Peter Cosmiano. "We've had some improvements over the past few weeks, but haven't been able to put together a complete game. We hope to rectify that this weekend as we get ready for the second half of the conference play."
The Blue and Gold are led offensively by
Jenna Campbell and
Kayana Mitchell. Campbell, a native of League City, Texas, has tallied 120 kills on the season while the Southaven, Miss., product, Mitchell, has recorded 108 on the season.
Freshman
Bailee Berringer has dished out a team-best 292 assists.
Sydney Chandler, who ranks eighth all-time in assists with 685, has accounted for 225 on the campaign.
A trio of Lady Choctaws have recorded triple-digit digs this season led by
Madison Kimes' 177.
Pearson Bell has totaled 162 with
Shelby Grace Mays adding 161. Berringer and Chandler both sit outside the 100-dig club with 99 this season.
Mitchell leads the squad with 47 blocks while
Jamila Biglow has garnered 34.
Rollins enters the weekend having dropped 13 of its last 14 outings. The Tars are led by Bri Civiero with 170 kills. Shannon McDonough and Rachel Sawyer rank second and third in kills with 124 and 118 respectively. Mary Ellen Poole and April Jackson has each recorded 200-plus assists on the season. Poole has a team-leading 294 while Jackson has 273. Rebecca Wilson has totaled a team-best 272 digs while Kianna Dieudonne has 56 blocks on the season to lead the team.
Embry-Riddle has dropped four of its last five affairs coming into the Crossover. Evelina Abdurakhmanova has a team-best 260 kills while Tamires Ferreira has setup the Eagles' offense with 566 assists. Defensively, Sumerr Paxton has a team-leading 319 digs with Ella Duggan's 53 blocks.
Florida Tech is on a four-game skid coming into the weekend, despite sitting .500 on the season. Alea Hamm has a team-leading 116 kills and 56 blocks for the Panthers. Kim Juriga has totaled 112 followed by Olivia Hersey and Marilyn Dick with 106 and 105 respectively. Ashtin Truesdale has garnered 402 assists. Becca Bower has a team-best 208 digs.
Following the weekend slate, Mississippi College returns to action on Friday, Oct. 23 in Jackson, Tenn., as the Lady Choctaws face Union University in GSC action. Match time is slated for 7 p.m.
