ARKADELPHIA, Ark. --- The Mississippi College volleyball team opened the 2024 campaign with a pair of victories at the Reddie-Tiger Invitational on Friday, Sept. 6 hosted by Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University.
 
The Choctaws opened the day with a four-set win over Southeastern Oklahoma State University and closed out the day with a five-set thriller over Ouachita. The victory in the Invitational lidlifter gave head coach Bentley Odom her first career win.
 
Lydia Paulette paced the squad with 39 kills over the two matches, including 20 in the decision over Ouachita. It marks the fifth time in her career she's notched 20-plus kills. The Tuscaloosa, Ala., native recorded her 49th and 50th double-digit kill performances of her career as she supplied 19 kills in the opener.
 
Rhaia Davey and Julia Sumrall followed the preseason all-conference selection with 16 and 15 kills respectively. Davey, a product of Baton Rouge, La., reset her career-high as she compiled nine kills in the nightcap. The total surpassed her previous high of six set in the second round of the conference tournament during her debut season last year. Sumrall, who also paced the squad with nine total blocks on the day, totaled nine kills in the opener – one off her career-high.
 
Ali Wiggins and Caylin Pixley helped direct the offensive attack, which posted a combined .251 clip on the day. Wiggins finished with a team-leading 48 assists while Pixley added 35 dimes. Former Birmingham-Southern College standout, Samarin Kipple, helped pace the defensive effort with 33 digs followed by Paulette with 21.
 
MC took the opening two sets of the contest of the day, but found itself deadlocked and heading to a deciding, fifth set as the Tigers sought to improve to 2-0 on the day and on their home court. However, the come-from-behind attempt was thwarted as the Blue and Gold doubled up the hosts through the first 12 points of the fifth frame. MC increased its lead in the decider by as many as five points, 14-9, but held off a late charge as OBU cut the margin to within two points. The Tigers held off match-point on four different occasions, but a Meg Paparella kill iced the contest and gave the visitors from the Magnolia State a 2-0 day.
 
In the opener, the two teams stood deadlocked at a set each through the first two frames. The Blue and Gold blistered the Savage Storm in the opening set, 25-14, but fell 25-23 in the second set. In the third frame, the two squads sat tied at 12-all, but a 5-1 run gave the Blue and Gold a 17-13 advantage and it never looked back as it took a 2-1 lead in the contest with a 25-17 victory.
 
The Choctaw looked to close out the match in the fourth stanza as they grabbed an early advantage, but found themselves in a dead heat at 17-all. Cydney Mitchell delivered kill and broke the deadlock as MC did not relinquish the lead the remainder of the way as it grabbed a 25-20 win.
 
Mississippi College returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 7 as it continues with the second day of the Invitational. MC opens play at 10 a.m. against McKendree University before wrapping up action against co-host Henderson State University at 5:30 p.m.