HOOVER, Ala. --- The Mississippi College volleyball team downed Nova Southeastern in four sets to close out the NCAA Division II South Region Crossover. The victory gave MC (18-4) its second most wins in program history along with second ever in the Crossover.
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The program's other win came in five sets against NSU in 2017 in Hoover at the Crossover.
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A trio of Choctaw posted double-figure kills in the victory led by a career-high 19 from sophomore
Lydia Paulette. The Tuscaloosa, Ala., native posted a .333 attack clip during the four-set decision. Her previous best was 18 against Auburn Montgomery in the Gulf South Conference Tournament last season.
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Kendall Platt added 12 kills during the contest while
Caroline Chastang tallied 10.
Lexie Laurendine directed the offensive attack with 45 assists
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MC totaled 12 blocks as a team in the contest led by
Sloane FitzHenry with six. Paulette supplied four along with
Julia Sumrall.
Missy Beber chimed in a team-best 15 digs followed by Platt with 12.
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After it dropped the opening set 26-24, the Navy and Gold rallied with three, straight set wins to clinch the match. MC knotted the contest a 25-20 victory in the second set and took a 2-1 advantage with a 25-21 decision in the third set. The Choctaw rallied from 20-18 down in the set to take the four-point victory as the squad went on a 9-3 run to close out the set. Paulette led the spurt with four kills. Â
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In the fourth, the two teams stood deadlocked at 20 in the closing seconds. Laurendine broke the tie with a kill and the winner sparked a 5-1 to close out the set for the Navy and Gold. Four different Choctaw added a kill down the stretch. Platt ended the contest with a service ace – her second of the contest and the sixth by the team.
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MC opened the day with a four-set setback to No. 17 Barry University. Trailing 2-0, the Navy and Gold attempted to climb back in the contest with a 25-20 win the third set. The squad held a 19-14 advantage in the waning moments of the set. However, the Red and Black rallied to tie it at 19-all, but MC closed the set on a 6-1 run led by Platt, who totaled three kills during the spurt.
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The momentum from the set was short lived for the Navy and Gold as the Bucs opened with a 15-7 run in the fourth and claimed the match with a 25-14 victory.
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Platt and Paulette led the team with 13 and 10 kills respectively while Laurendine dished out 36 assists to pace the offensive effort. Beber led the defensive effort with 14 digs.
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Mississippi College returns to action on Friday, Oct. 21 as it travels to Cleveland, Tenn., to face Lee University in GSC action. First serve is 6 p.m.
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