CLINTON, Miss. — The Mississippi College volleyball team is set to kick off its highly anticipated 2024 season at the Reddie-Tiger Invitational, hosted by Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark. The two-day event, beginning on Friday, Sept. 6, will provide an early test for the Choctaw.
With the start of a new season, there will be a new person at the helm of the program as well. For the first time in seven seasons, a new head coach will prowl the sideline as head coach Bentley Odom embarks on her first season as the head coach after a one-year stint as an assistant coach at West Texas A&M University. The first-year head coach helped guide WT to the NCAA Division II National Championship Game last season.
The campaign gets off to an early start as the Choctaw face Southeastern Oklahoma State University, the first of three Great American Conference members on the slate over the weekend, in the opening match of the Invite. First serve against the Savage Storm is at 10 a.m. inside the Sturgis Physical Education Center on the Ouachita campus. MC closes out the day against the host Tigers at 6 p.m.
Day two of the Invitational pits the Blue and Gold against McKendree University at 10 a.m. inside the Duke Wells Center on the Henderson State campus. The squad closes out its tournament action at 5:30 p.m. against the second co-host of the Invitational, HSU.
The Choctaw return five starters from last year's team, which advanced to the Gulf South Conference Tournament for the fourth consecutive time and their 14th during its 21 seasons in the league. MC was tabbed fourth in a vote for the conference's head coaches, including a first-place vote in the preseason poll.
A quartet of seniors help guide the program into action this season, headlined by
Lydia Paulette, a two-time All-GSC selection. The Tuscaloosa, Ala., native led the team in kills (407), service aces (41) and points (467.0) last season. She finished third on the team in total blocks (33); fourth in digs (189) and fifth in assists (24) on her way to first team, all-conference accolades. She ranks second in program history in kills (935), in points (1100.0) and seventh in service aces (92) as she enters her senior campaign.
Alongside Paulette is fellow Yellowhammer State product
Ali Wiggins, who enters her fifth season in Clinton. The Enterprise, Ala., native ranks eighth in program history in assists, where she led the team last season.
Londyn Bakeris, a second, fifth-year standout, and
Julia Sumrall, a former Jackson Prep performer, round out the senior foursome.
Following the Reddie-Tiger Invitational, Mississippi College will continue its non-conference slate on Friday, Sept. 20 at the Peach Belt-Gulf South Conference Crossover on the campus of the University of Montevallo.
To follow this weekend's action in the Natural State, visit www.GoChoctaws.com, the department's
media central, social media or the
Mississippi College Gameday App.
"These last few weeks of preseason have allowed us the time to get to learn our team. I have really enjoyed spending that time with all of the girls while training at a high level. As we depart for the Reddie-Tiger Invitational, they are hungry to start competing. We've honed our skills - we're ready to put them up against some solid competition this weekend." -
Mississippi College Head Coach Bentley Odom
