CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College volleyball team returns to action this weekend as it travels to Arkadelphia, Ark., for the Reddie-Tiger Invitational. MC opens up at Henderson State on Friday, Aug. 31 against the host Reddies at 10 a.m. The Lady Choctaws wrap up the day at 2 p.m. against Southwest Baptist University on the HSU campus.
 
The Navy and Gold travel across the street to Ouachita Baptist University on Saturday, Sept. 1 to face Dallas Baptist University at 2 p.m. MC concludes the day against the host Tigers at 6 p.m.
 
BACK TO THE NATURAL STATE
For the second straight weekend, Mississippi College travels to the State of Arkansas as MC visits Arkadelphia, Ark., for the Reddie-Tiger Invitational hosted by Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University. The Navy and Gold face HSU and Southwest Baptist University at HSU on Friday, Aug. 31 before closing out the two-day Invitational at OBU against Dallas Baptist University and the host Tigers. MC went 2-2 last weekend at Southern Arkansas University.
 
PLATT NAMED GSC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Kendall Platt was named Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week for her performance this weekend at the Dr. Margaret Downing Invitational at Southern Arkansas University. Platt had an impressive debut as she set the program's single-match record with 23 kills against Southern Arkansas on Saturday, Aug. 25. She tied the previous record with 20 in five sets against Cameron (Okla.) on Friday evening. The Anaheim, Calif., native totaled a team-best 64 kills in four matches over the weekend. Platt becomes the first volleyball player to receive a weekly, conference honor since 2012 when Rachel Farmer and Holly Tupper swept American Southwest Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week accolades.
 
MAYS NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT
Shelby Grace Mays received Dr. Margaret Downing Invitational All-Tournament accolades for her performance at the Invitational last weekend at Southern Arkansas. The Arab, Ala., native recorded 45 kills, three aces, 19 digs and 10 blocks during the four-match weekend.
 
MAYS THE FORCE BE WITH YOU
Redshirt junior Shelby Grace Mays returns to the Lady Choctaws for the 2018 season after being sidelined last season with an injury. The Arab, Ala., native has played in 73 matches during her career and returns as the kill leader for the Navy and Gold with 419. Mays also leads the team in digs with 508 and 56 service aces.
 
RECORD CHASING
Shelby Grace Mays looks to crack the top 10 in program history in kills, service aces and digs. Mays is 100 or less kills and digs from from making the top 10 in school history and 17 aces from reaching the all-time list.
 
NEW ERA IN CLINTON
Mississippi College opens the Shawna Laurendine Era at the Dr. Margaret Downing Invitational in Magnolia, Ark. Laurendine returns to the Gulf South Conference after spending the last five seasons as the head coach at the University of South in Sewanee, Tenn. This marks Laurendine's third stint in the GSC after previous stops at the University of West Alabama (1996-00) and Southern Arkansas University (2001-06).
 
WELCOME BACK
The Lady Choctaws return eight players from the 2017 edition, including just three upperclassmen. Jill Brown is the lone senior on the squad and is joined by juniors Shelby Grace Mays, Julia Martin and Autumn Frost. Sophomores Hannah Rue, Brandi Bundy, Makenzie McLendon and Kaitlyn Wilson round out the returnees.
 
NEW FACES
Head Coach Shawna Laurendine welcomes 11 freshmen to Clinton. The newcomers represent seven different states from across the country. Jamie Boros and Kendall Platt represented the Navy and Gold among the top newcomers in the Preseason Gulf South Conference release. Boros hails from Pompano Beach, Fla. while Platt calls Anaheim, Calif., home.
 
EARLY ROAD TEST
The Lady Choctaws open the 2018 slate with its first 11 matches away from A.E. Wood Coliseum. MC opens with eight straight matches in Arkansas. After the Dr. Margaret Downing Invitational in Magnolia, Ark., at Southern Arkansas University, the Navy and Gold follow the next weekend with a trip to Arkadelphia, Ark., to compete in the Bettye Wallace Invitational hosted by Henderson State University. MC also travels to Lorman, Miss., for a tri-match with William Carey and Alcorn State and opens Gulf South Conference play at the University of West Alabama.