PENSACOLA, Fla. --- The Mississippi College volleyball team fell in five sets to Auburn University at Montgomery in the quarterfinals of the Gulf South Conference Tournament. It is the sixth time this season the program saw five sets this season.
A trio of Choctaw totaled double figure kills led by Caroline Chastang with 15 putaways. It is the 17th time the GSC Freshman of the Week has totaled 10-plus kills in her debut season.
Kendall Platt followed with a season-high 14 kills. It's her 65th career match with 10-plus kills and 12th of the season. Fellow senior
Lexie Laurendine added 10 kills. It stands as her third time this season with 10-plus and the 21st of her career. The Clinton, Miss., also dished out a team-best 28 assists and 14 digs for back-to-back triple-double efforts – the 15th of her season.
Julia Sumrall led the charge at the net with eight blocks.
Missy Beber totaled 21 digs while Londyn Bakeris added 10.
MC held a 12-7 advantage in the fifth set and gained a 14-11 lead late and a chance to advance to the semifinals of the tournament in back-to-back seasons. AUM had different plans as it fought off match point, three time to send the set to 14-all. The two teams exchanged leads and ties until the Black and Orange gained the upperhand following a service error and a block to conclude the contest at 20-18.
Choctaw rallied from down early 10-6 to grab their first lead of the of the set at 16-15. The Navy and Gold expanded its margin despite the Warhawks trying to climb back into the set. They held as much as a four-point lead down the stretch before delivering the final blow of the set, 25-20, on a block from Laurendine and Sumrall.
AUM battled back and took a 2-1 advantage following identical scores of 25-22 in the second and third sets. However, MC knotted the contest at two sets each as responded with a 25-21 win in the fourth set. Trailing 21-20, the Navy and Gold posted the next five straight points to send the contest to the decider.
Mississippi College closes out its historic run with a 23-7 record and the school record for wins.
