Mississippi Colege Athletics

MOBILE, Ala. --- The Mississippi College volleyball team opened the season with a five-set thriller, but came up on the short end in its opening contest of the Springhill Suites Invitational against Wheeling (W. Va.) University inside the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreational Center on the campus of Spring Hill College.
 
WU (1-1), which advanced the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Semifinal last season, is picked to win its division in the Mountain East Conference. The Red and White is one of six opponents on the MC ledger this season to notch 20-plus wins last season.
 
The Choctaw (0-1) dropped the first set, 25-16, but rallied to pick up the next two sets and take a 2-1 lead in the match. The Blue and Gold posted an impressive, 25-17, decision in the second set to knot the contest at 1-1 and then rallied to take five of the last six points in the third to hold the advantage.
 
Lydia Paulette tied a career-high in the match as she compiled 19 kills. The team-leading mark equaled her career best set last season against Nova Southeastern on Oct. 15. The Tuscaloosa, Ala., native has registered 26 contests with double-figure kills during her stint in Clinton.
 
Ali Wiggins and Caylin Pixley dished out 20-plus assists each in the contest. Wiggins led the way with 23 dimes – one shy of her career-high. The Enterprise, Ala., product has six career outings with 20 or more assists. Pixley, who made her debut in the Blue and Gold, compiled 20 assists.
 
The Baton Rouge, La., native wasn't the only Choctaw to don the Blue and Gold for the first time as Cydney Mitchell joined her fellow freshman teammate. The Alabaster, Ala., product added five kills and five blocks in her introduction.
 
On the defensive side of the net, Julia Sumrall picked up where she left off last season as she collected eight total blocks. The Jackson, Miss., native has five matches in her career with eight or more blocks. Missy Beber added 17 digs while Caroline Chastang added a career-high 15 as she surpassed her previous best of six against Tougaloo College last season.
 
WU leveled the match at 2-sets each as it took a 17-10 lead midway through the fourth frame. The Choctaw rallied and drew within 19-16, but the Red and White answered with six of the final eight points of the set to claim a 25-8 decision. The Cardinals rode the momentum into the final set as it scored the first six points of the set and finished the match on a 5-0 run to clinch a 15-5 victory in the deciding set.
 
Tylah Yeomans led a trio of Cardinals in double-digit kills with a team-best 23.
 
Mississippi College returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 2 as it faces Oklahoma Baptist University at 2 p.m. The Choctaw wrap up the Invitational against Spring Hill College at 7 p.m. The final two matches are slated for the University of West Florida Field House in Pensacola, Fla.
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