CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College volleyball team returns to action on Thursday, Sept. 6 as the Choctaws travel to Lorman, Miss., for a tri-match against Alcorn State University and William Carey University. Match time against ASU is slated for 2 p.m. with a 4 p.m. contest against the Crusaders set to follow.
 
ALCORN STATE SERIES: Mississippi College holds the all-time series record against Alcorn State University at 3-2, despite losing the last two outings against the Braves.  ASU claimed a 3-1 decision over the Lady Choctaws in Lorman, Miss., last season.

WILLIAM CAREY SERIES: The series between Mississippi College and William Carey is tied at one with each. The Crusaders claimed a 3-1 outcome last season in Hattiesburg, Miss., to knot the series. MC claimed the initial meeting between the two schools on Sept. 1, 2016 in Clinton, Miss., in straight sets. Thursday's meeting is the first neutral site meeting between the two schools.

ROAD SWING WINDING DOWN: Thursday's tri-match at Alcorn State against the Braves and William Carey mark the ninth and 10th meetings away from the friendly confines of A.E. Wood Coliseum this season. MC's 2018 slate opened with 11, straight matches away from Clinton. The Choctaws wrap up the road swing next Tuesday as it opens Gulf South Conference action at the University of West Alabama.

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. 

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 and rank among the leaders in the Gulf South Conference. Platt ranks third in the league in kills per set with 3.66 while Boros ranks 10th with 2.66 kills on average.  

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 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.