CLINTON, Miss. --- Mississippi College closed out the regular season falling in straight sets to Christian Brothers. Both squads now turn their attention to the Gulf South Conference Tournament.
The tournament berth is the sixth consecutive for the program and the 16th overall.
Meg Paparella led MC with eight kills and contributed defensively with seven digs.
Reese Regner facilitated the attack with 13 assists while also adding six digs.
Rhaia Davey posted five kills, hitting .267, and recorded two solo blocks.
Samarin Kipple was active in the back row, collecting 14 digs throughout the match.
The first set began with the Choctaws setting the early tone as
Mary Grace Foster delivered a kill assisted by Regner to put the home team on the scoreboard first. Despite an array of kills from Foster and Paparella, the Blue and Gold faced challenges as Christian Brothers built momentum, notably through a series of service aces and blocks, culminating in a stretch that put them ahead. MC managed to narrow the gap, highlighted by Paparella's service ace, but ultimately, CBU closed out the set with a decisive 25-20 victory.
The Bucs took the early lead in the second set, maintaining momentum despite the Blue and Gold's efforts to close the gap. Contributions from
Cydney Mitchell, who delivered a service ace, and
Ellie Foco, who secured a block, briefly leveled the score at 3-all. However, the Red and Black responded with a decisive run, extending their lead to 7-4.
The Choctaws managed to stay competitive with key kills from Foster and
Emma Levingston, but CBU consistently capitalized on scoring opportunities. Despite a late kill by Paparella, the Bucs concluded the set with a 25-15 victory.
Christian Brothers built early momentum in the third set as MC faced a challenging start with a series of miscues. The Blue and Gold responded with kills from
Ellie Foco and Paparella, narrowing the gap to 7-5. However, CBU maintained their lead with a strong offensive display, extending the score to 18-8.
Davey contributed key points for the Choctaws with two kills, but Christian Brothers' consistent pressure kept them ahead. A service ace by Stella Lukaszuk brought the score to 23-10, and they eventually clinched the set 25-11.
MC returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 18 in the first round of the GSC Tournament. The opponent, location and time are to be determined.Â
