CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College volleyball team opens its 2018 home slate this weekend as it welcomes the 10th ranked University of West Florida and Auburn University at Montgomery. First serve against the nationally-ranked Argos is set for 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 14. The match against AUM is slated for Saturday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available for both matches.
DOME SWEET DOME: After 11 matches on the road to open the 2018 campaign, Mississippi College opens its home slate this weekend in Gulf South Conference action against the 10th-ranked University of West Florida and Auburn University at Montgomery. Last season, the Choctaws opened its home slate on Sept. 12 against Loyola (La.) - six matches into the season.
UWF series: Mississippi College looks for its first win of the series against the University of West Florida. The Argos lead the series 7-0.
AUM SERIES: Saturday marks the second meeting in the series between Mississippi College and Auburn University at Montgomery. The Choctaws claimed the initial meeting in straight sets last season in Clinton.
BACK-TO-BACK: Mississippi College looks to win its win its second straight, home opener on Friday, Sept. 14 since the Choctaws claimed their home-opening contests during the 2011-2012 seasons. The Navy and Gold opened the 2017 campaign with a straight sets win over Loyola (La.).
RUE, BOROS ECLIPSE CENTURY KILL MARK: Sophomore
Hannah Rue and freshman
Jamie Boros recently broke the 100-kill mark in their career. Rue, a Muscle Shoals, Ala., product posted 100th, career kill on Sept. 6 at Alcorn State Tri-Match in Lorman, Miss. Boros passed the century platuea on Sept. 11 at West Alabama. A Pompano Beach, Fla., product, Boros becomes the second freshman this season to surpass 100-plus kills.
FROST-Y FRONT: Sophomore
Autumn Frost has proven a force at the net for the Choctaws this season. The Largo, Fla., native has recorded 37 total blocks this season, including a career-high six at Southern Arkansas on Aug. 25 and later tied the benchmark last Thursday, Sept. 6 at Alcorn State. Frost ranks fifth in the Gulf South Conference in blocks per set.
FRESHMEN LEADING OFFENSIVELY: Freshmen are leading Mississippi College offensively in 2018.
Kendall Platt leads the team with 138 kills this season. The Anaheim, Calif., native has paced the Choctaws with seven matches as the kill leader and has posted eight in double figures. The offense is being directed by a pair frehmen.
Rylee Markham has led the team in assists in seven matches while
Lexie Laurendine has four matches as the assists leader.
DEJA VU: Choctaw head coach
Shawna Laurendine returns to Livingston, Ala., and Pruitt Hall for the first time since 1999 on Tuesday, Sept. 11. 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.
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.
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 awas 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.
