CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College volleyball team split a pair of contests on Thursday, Sept. 1 to open the 2016 season. MC (1-1) took a three-set match from William Carey to clinch the first win of the season and the first for first-year head coach Julie Redus. The Lady Choctaws fell 3-0 to Spring Hill College to open the day's action.
 
"I thought we played hard in both games tonight," said Redus. "We still need to work on some things heading forward and we know that we aren't anywhere near the team we want to be, but it's always great to get that first win."
 
Jenna Campbell led the Blue and Gold through the two matches with a combined 17 kills. The sophomore from League City, Texas, paced the squad with 11 kills in the win over the Crusaders en route to recording a .444 attack percentage.
 
Sydney Chandler added a combined 28 assists while Bailee Berringer supplied 20 for the two matches. Jordan Veal finished with 13 assists – all coming in the victory over the Crusaders – a team-best.
 
Madison Kimes led the defensive effort with a total of 28 digs as she compiled 16 and 12 in the two outings.
 
MC led from the onset against William Carey. The Lady Choctaws jumped out to a 25-19 in the opening set and went into the intermission up 2-0 following a 25-17 victory in the second set. The Blue and Gold finished out the contest holding off a late charge from the Red and Black as they clinched a 25-22, matching-clinching final set.
 
In the opener, the Lady Choctaws provided a tough out for Spring Hill. MC went toe-to-toe with the Badgers in the first, two sets before falling 25-22 and 25-23. SHC posted the notched the win with a 25-20 victory in the final set.
 
Madison Frazier led the Blue and Gold with nine kills against Spring Hill while Chandler dished out a team-best 16 assists followed by 15 from Berringer.
 
Mississippi College returns to action on Tuesday, Sept. 6 as it hosts Division I foe, Mississippi Valley State. Match time is scheduled for 6 p.m.