gwenyth prenter
Kyle Lewis --- Mississippi College

Volleyball Kyle Lewis---Assistant Sports Information Director

Volleyball Preview: West Alabama

CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College volleyball team opens Gulf South Conference action on Tuesday, Sept. 11 as it travels to Livingston, Ala., to face the University of West Alabama. First serve is set for 6 p.m. at Pruitt Hall.
 
Live stats and video are available at www.gochoctaws.com.
 
THE SERIES: Mississippi College looks to snap a nine-game skid as it travels to Livingston, Ala., on Tuesday. The Tigers hold a 15-4 advantage in the series with the Choctaws last win over the Red and White coming on Aug. 31, 2002. MC claimed the first three meetings in the series.
 
ROAD SWING WINDING DOWN: Tuesday's match is the end of an 11-game, road swing for the Choctaws to open the season. MC has been away from the friendly confines of A.E. Wood Coliseum since the season opened on Aug. 24 in Magnolia, Ark. Mississippi College opens its home slate on Friday, Sept. 14 against the University of West Florida.
 
DEJA VU: Choctaw head coach Shawna Laurendine returns to Livingston, Ala., and Pruitt Hall for the first time since 1999. Laurendine coached the Tigers from 1996-99 accumulating a record of 78-81 and an appearance in the Gulf South Conference Tournament. Earlier this season, Laurendine returned to Magnolia, Ark., where she served as the head coach of Southern Arkansas from 2001-06.
 
FROST FRONT: Sophomore Autumn Frost has proven a force at the net for the Choctaws this season. The Largo, Fla., native has recorded 24 total blocks this season, including a career-high six at Southern Arkansas on Aug. 25. She tied the benchmark last Thursday at Alcorn State. Frost ranks fourth in the Gulf South Conference in blocks per set.
 
CHOCTAW DEBUTS: Nine Choctaws have made their debuts this season for Mississippi College. Eight of the 11 freshmen have played in at least one set this season while redshirt sophomore Kaitlyn Wilson made her MC introduction on Aug. 31 against Southwest Baptist University at the Reddie-Tiger Invitational in Arkadelphia, Ark.
 
FRESHMEN LEADING OFFENSIVELY: A pair of freshmen lead Mississippi College offensively through the first eight matches of the season. Kendall Platt and Jamie Boros pace the squad in kills. Platt ranks among the leaders in the Gulf South Conference at third in the league in kills per set with 3.61 while Boros is just outside the top 10 with 3.75. 
 
LAURENDINE, PLATT NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT: A pair of Mississippi College freshmen were named to the Reddie-Tiger Invitational All-Tournament Team for their efforts this past weekend in Arkadelphia, Ark.  Lexie Laurendine and Kendall Platt were recognized Sunday, Sept. 2 at the conclusion of the two-day Invite. Platt led the team with 42 kills during the four-game stretch and chimed in 29 digs, which was second on the team. Laurendine finished second on the team in assists with 56 - one off the team-high.
 
PLATT BREAKS CENTURY KILL MARK: Kendall Platt broke the 100-kill plateau this past weekend in a 3-1 setback to Ouachita Baptist. The Anaheim, Calif., product is the fastest Choctaw to reach the century mark since Liz Mullin in 1994. The freshman has 106 kills in the first eight matches of the season.
 
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 44 kills and 82 digs from cracking the top 10 in school history and 14 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.
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Jill Brown

#10 Jill Brown

DS
5' 6"
Senior
Brandi Bundy

#5 Brandi Bundy

S/DS
5' 4"
Sophomore
Julia Martin

#8 Julia Martin

DS/L
5' 6"
Junior
Shelby Grace Mays

#1 Shelby Grace Mays

OH/RS
5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
Makenzie McLendon

#13 Makenzie McLendon

DS
5' 5"
Sophomore
Hannah Rue

#17 Hannah Rue

OPP
5' 11"
Sophomore
Jamie Boros

#3 Jamie Boros

OH
5' 10"
Freshman
Kendall Platt

#11 Kendall Platt

OH
6' 0"
Freshman
Lexie Laurendine

#15 Lexie Laurendine

OPP
5' 9"
Freshman
Kaitlyn Wilson

#6 Kaitlyn Wilson

DS/L
5' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Jill Brown

#10 Jill Brown

5' 6"
Senior
DS
Brandi Bundy

#5 Brandi Bundy

5' 4"
Sophomore
S/DS
Julia Martin

#8 Julia Martin

5' 6"
Junior
DS/L
Shelby Grace Mays

#1 Shelby Grace Mays

5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
OH/RS
Makenzie McLendon

#13 Makenzie McLendon

5' 5"
Sophomore
DS
Hannah Rue

#17 Hannah Rue

5' 11"
Sophomore
OPP
Jamie Boros

#3 Jamie Boros

5' 10"
Freshman
OH
Kendall Platt

#11 Kendall Platt

6' 0"
Freshman
OH
Lexie Laurendine

#15 Lexie Laurendine

5' 9"
Freshman
OPP
Kaitlyn Wilson

#6 Kaitlyn Wilson

5' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
DS/L