CLINTON, Miss. --- After over two weeks on the road, the Mississippi College volleyball team returns to A.E. Wood Coliseum this weekend to host Union University and Christian Brothers University in Gulf South Conference action. Friday's match against Union is slated for 7 p.m. with a 1 p.m. contest against CBU on Saturday.
 
MC (1-8) was nipped 3-1 in its GSC opener at Valdosta State on Tuesday. Kayana Mitchell and Jamila Biglow paced the offensive effort for the Blue and Gold with seven kills each. Bailee Berringer set up the offensive efforts with a team-best 18 assists. Madison Kimes and Sydney Chandler led the squad with 19 and 11 digs respectively.
 
"We're encouraged going into this weekend. We saw some progress in the mindset of the team at Valdosta State," said head coach Peter Cosmiano. "We think they proved something to themselves by playing last season's conference champion close throughout the match and getting the third game from them. They stayed focused and positive and that's something we've been trying to get them to do this season. We've got to be able to carry that into the rest of the season and that starts with Union and CBU this weekend."
 
UU is 1-5 record on the season. The Bulldogs are led offensively by Ceciley Blanchard and Casi Neff with 45 and 44 kills respectively. Elise Seufert guides the defensive effort with 71 digs. CBU sports a 3-4 record and is led by Alexis Gillis with 110 kills and Marisa Wong's 103 digs. Union and Christian Brothers compete on Thursday evening in Memphis with the first, conference win for either program on the line.
 
"We expect to win this weekend," said freshman Jenna Campbell. "We're going to be at home. We're going to be comfortable. Playing at Valdosta made us step up our game. Being able to take one game off of them, showed us what we can do and has got us ready for this weekend. We need to go into this weekend with confidence, work together and hit hard to win."
 
A trio of freshmen are leading the Lady Choctaws offensively this season. Campbell and Shelby Grace Mays pace the Blue and Gold in kills while Berringer sets up MC's scoring. Campbell leads the team with 65 kills while Mays is second with 51. Berringer has dished out a team-best 142 assists.
 
Mays along with Pearson Bell and Madison Kimes lead the defensive effort for MC as the each has registered 100-plus digs on the season. Bell leads the team with 131 whiles Kimes has chalked up 121 digs. Mays ranks third on the squad with 107 on the campaign.
 
Following the GSC outings this weekend, Mississippi College returns to conference action on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at West Alabama. Match time is slated for 6 p.m.