MONTGOMERY, Ala. --- The Mississippi College volleyball team rallied to top Auburn University at Montgomery in Gulf South Conference in five sets on Tuesday, Oct. 3. It marks the third time in the last four outings the Choctaws (5-8, 4-2 GSC) have gone to a deciding set and the fifth this season.
 
The Choctaws, who have rallied from 2-0 down twice this season, improve to 9-3 all-time in the series with its neighbors from the Yellowhammer State as the victory lands them their third straight on the Warhawks home floor.
 
MC snapped the Orange and Black's five-match, home win streak and ended a 17 consecutive, set wins with a 25-14 win in the third. The frame win sparked a come-from-behind rally as the Blue and Gold claimed the final three sets as it outscored AUM, 65-34.
 
The Choctaws picked up double-digit kill performances from Caroline Chastang and Lydia Paulette. Chastang led the team with 14 kills for her ninth double-figure performance of the season and 26th of her career. Paulette added 13 winners along with three service aces to garner her 11th contest with 10-plus kills and career 35th.
 
Ali Wiggins dished out a career-high 26 assists in the rally. The Enterprise, Ala., native's previous mark was 25 set against the Warhawks earlier this season in Clinton and equaled on Sept. 26 in a five-set contest against West Florida. It is the seventh time this season she has garnered 20-plus dimes and 10th of her career.
 
The Blue and Gold also added season-high kill efforts from Julia Sumrall and Rhaia Davey. Sumrall matched her previous best with eight kills, which she obtained on Sept. 16 against Georgia College and State University. Davey posted five kills, which surpassed her previous high of three at Christian Brothers on Sept. 23 – the come-from-behind, five-set winner.
 
Defensively, Missy Beber collected a team-best 20 digs in the effort. It is the second time on the campaign she's reached the mark and her career 10th. Her dig total is tied for second most this season. Cydney Mitchell led the squad at the net with four blocks in the match, including three solos. Davey also joined the block party as she equaled a season-high with three on the evening, including two solos. The solo marks for the two freshmen stand as season-bests for the pair. The squad totaled 10 total blocks in the win.
 
The Blue and Gold collected eight service aces in the decision, including three apiece in the second and third sets. MC didn't convert an ace in the opening frame.
 
After snapping the Warhawks winning-set streak in the third, the Choctaw bombarded the Orange and Black in the fourth set, 25-10, to send the contest to the fifth. It matches the fewest points in a set by an opponent this season as equals the mark by the University of West Alabama in the final set of the sweep on Friday, Sept. 29.
 
In the fifth, the two teams exchanged leads and deadlocks as the set saw six stalemates and four lead changes in the first 16 points. A Davey killed pulled the Choctaw within a point at 8-7. Then Baton Rouge, La., product posted back-to-back rejections to give the Blue and Gold the upper hand, 9-8. MC did not relinquish the advantage again as it closed the frame and match on a 10-2 run.
 
The Choctaw posted 52 kills on the night – it's seventh time in the last eight affairs - as it finished with a .290 attack clip and hit .300 or better in the final three frames, including a .458 in the fourth. AUM finished with 46 kills and a .156 attack percentage as it hit under .200 in the last three sets.
 
Mississippi College returns to action on Friday, Oct. 6 as it hosts Lee University in the program's annual Dig Pink Match. First serve is at 6 p.m.
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