VALDOSTA, Ga. --- Lydia Paulette and Mary Grace Foster tallied double-figure kills, but the Mississippi College volleyball team came up short at Valdosta State University on Friday, Oct. 11 as the Blazers claimed the contest in four sets.
 
The setback snapped a five-match win streak for the Choctaw, who move to 7-7 on the campaign and 5-2 in Gulf South Conference.
 
Paulette and Foster recorded 11 kills apiece in the match. It marks the second contest with 10-plus kills for Foster and her second in the last three outings behind a .333 attack percentage. It is the career 62nd for Paulette and her 14th of the season. Ali Wiggins totaled 19 assists to lead the team while Caylin Pixley added 16 dimes.
 
Samarin Kipple paced the squad on the defensive end with 21 digs – her fourth of the season. The Paulette added 17. Londyn Bakeris and Wiggins suppled 10 each. Rhaia Davey logged three blocks with Julia Sumrall and Paulette with two.
 
VSU opened the contest with a 25-21 victory, but the Choctaw rallied to knot the match at a set each by flipping the first-set score in their favor. The Blazers regained the upper hand in the third set with a 25-19 win, but the Choctaw looked to send the contest to a deciding fifth set.
 
The two teams went back and forth in the fourth and stood deadlocked at 19-all. The Red and Black garnered four of the next five points to grab a 23-20 advantage. MC rattled off the next three points to force a second stalemate late in the match. Foster and Paulette gathered two kills during the run and an attack error evened the set at 23-all. However, two miscues from the visitors from the Magnolia State ended the match.
 
The victory is the ninth straight for Valdosta State on its home floor in the series.
 
The Blue and Gold used a 6-1 run to take a 10-point advantage in the second set at 16-6. VSU narrowed the deficit to three points, but another Choctaw run (4-0) expanded the margin to 20-13. Again, the Red and Black cut into the lead, drawing within two points. However, MC claimed three of the final four points to win the set. Paulette, Davey and Ellie Foco turned in kills during the final push.
 
Mississippi College returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 12 as it faces the University of West Florida. First serve in Pensacola, Fla., is at Noon.