AUGUSTA, Ga. --- The Mississippi College volleyball battled in its opening match of the Peach Belt Conference-Gulf South Conference Crossover, but fell in four sets to the University of South Carolina in Aiken on Friday, Sept. 15 on the campus of Augusta University.
 
Caroline Chastang and Lydia Paulette led the team offensively as the Yellowhammer State duo each notched 16 kills in the contest. The double-digit kill total marks a season-high for Chastang. The Bay Minette, Ala., native's previous best was 10 against Oklahoma Baptist two weekends ago.
 
It marks the fourth time this season that Paulette, a Tuscaloosa, Ala., product, has registered double figure kills and her third-highest total of the season.
 
Caylin Pixley and Ali Wiggins helped direct the offensive effort as they each dished out 21 assists for the match. It's the third time this season with 20-plus dimes for the freshman, Pixley, this season, as she also tabbed 12 digs as well on the defensive end. Wiggins notched her second contest with 20 or more assists on the campaign and fifth of her career in the Blue and Gold.
 
Missy Beber assisted in the defensive effort with 15 digs while the trio of Julia Sumrall, Sloane FitzHenry and Mary Grace Foster helped led the effort at the net. FitzHenry and Sumrall tied for tops on the team with five blocks each. Foster compiled a season-high with four. The rejection total surpassed the Brandon, Miss., native's previous best set on Sept. 12 at Spring Hill College.
 
After dropping the first two sets of the match, the Choctaw looked to extend the match in the third. MC claimed an 18-11 margin in the set, but witnessed the Red and Blue rally to knot the contest at 20-all. The two teams exchanged points over the next 16 points until USCA's Lexi Rogers recorded a kill to tie the contest at 28-all. The Pacers looked to gain the upperhand, but Rogers' attack error gave the Blue and Gold a 29-28 lead. Chastang closed the door on the set as she recorded her 12th kill of the match off a feed from Wiggins.
 
MC looked to even the contest in the fourth set, but found itself behind early at 15-11. However, the squad rallied to deadlock the set at 20-all behind a block from Chastang and Sumrall. Chastang gave the Choctaw a one-point advantage with a kill on the following rally. USCA knotted the contest at 23-all and the two squads exchanged the following two points to stand tied at 24-all. Rogers and Emily Lammers logged back-to-back kills on the following two rallies to clinch the set and ice the match.
 
Rogers led a trio of Pacers with 18 kills.
 
Mississippi College returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 16 as it faces Georgia College and State University on the second day of the PBC-GSC Crossover. First serve is set for 9 a.m. The two-day event concludes with the Choctaws in action against the host Augusta University at 3 p.m. Both times are central.
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