CLINTON, Miss. — Mississippi Christian University volleyball returns to Gulf South Conference play this weekend with a pair of road matches against two of the league's top teams, beginning Friday night at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and continuing Saturday afternoon at the University of Montevallo.
MC enters the weekend 6-10 overall and 3-2 in GSC play after a five-set victory at Union on Tuesday. The Choctaws will face UAH at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, in Huntsville, before traveling to Montevallo for a 2 p.m. match Saturday, Oct. 3.
The weekend presents two different challenges. UAH brings a powerful attack and one of the conference's stronger blocking defenses, while Montevallo enters Saturday's match with a balanced offensive attack led by one of the GSC's top statistical producers.
Friday: MC at UAH
First serve: 6 p.m.
Location: SportsMED Arena at Spragins Hall, Huntsville, Alabama
Records: MC 6-10, 3-2 GSC; UAH 11-2, 3-1 GSC
UAH has put together an 11-2 start and enters Friday having won its most recent match, a 3-0 sweep of Montevallo on Sept. 25.
The Chargers are averaging 12.87 kills and 11.73 assists per set while hitting .226 as a team. Defensively, UAH averages 2.44 blocks per set, while opponents are hitting just .104 against the Chargers.
UAH players to know
Kayla Ward is one of the Chargers' primary offensive weapons. She is averaging 2.60 kills per set while hitting .451, giving UAH an efficient scoring option in the middle of its attack.
Ella Schumacher averages 2.20 kills per set, while Cooper Garrett contributes 2.27 kills per set and 5.20 assists per set.
At the net, Mary Grace Bundrant averages 1.21 blocks per set, while libero Brooklyn Stiles is averaging 4.06 digs per set.
What to watch for MC
MC enters the match averaging 11.25 kills per set and hitting .144.
The Choctaws have several offensive options capable of putting pressure on the UAH defense. Holland Williams leads MC at 2.33 kills per set, followed by Mary Grace Foster at 2.22, Cydney Mitchell at 2.20 and Meg Paparella at 2.09.
Foster and Reese Regner have shared much of the setting responsibility, while Samarin Kipple has provided a steady presence defensively.
One area where MC has the statistical advantage is blocking. The Choctaws are averaging 1.85 blocks per set, giving them an important weapon against the Chargers' attack.
Saturday: MC at Montevallo
First serve: 2 p.m.
Location: Central State Bank Arena, Montevallo, Alabama
Records: MC 6-10, 3-2 GSC; Montevallo 9-4, 3-1 GSC
After Friday's match in Huntsville, MC will make the trip to Montevallo for a Saturday afternoon matchup with the Falcons.
Montevallo enters the weekend 9-4 overall and 3-1 in GSC play. The Falcons are coming off a 3-1 victory over Shorter on Sept. 29.
Montevallo averages 12.27 kills, 11.33 assists and 2.02 aces per set, while hitting .202 as a team. The Falcons also average 15.15 digs and 1.37 blocks per set.
Montevallo players to know
Katie Wilkerson is the centerpiece of the Montevallo attack. She is averaging 4.07 kills per set and hitting .259.
Eliza Tyrrell provides another significant offensive threat with 3.27 kills per set while hitting .237.
Ellie Scharlow averages 1.80 kills per set, while Lilly Singleton contributes 1.07.
At setter, Blakeley Robbins averages 6.73 assists per set and helps distribute the Falcons' balanced attack.
On the defensive side, Ava Wind is one of Montevallo's key contributors in the back row.
The weekend matchup
The two matches give MC an opportunity to test itself against two teams currently sitting above the Choctaws in the GSC standings.
UAH's statistical profile centers on efficiency and blocking. The Chargers are averaging nearly 13 kills per set and hold opponents to a .104 hitting percentage.
Montevallo presents a different challenge. The Falcons have a high-volume offensive attack, led by Wilkerson and Tyrrell, while also creating opportunities from the service line.
For MC, the weekend will put its serve receive, blocking and offensive balance to the test.
Williams, Foster, Mitchell and Paparella give the Choctaws multiple attacking options, while Foster and Regner provide options at setter. Kipple and the MC back-row defense will also be important against two teams capable of generating substantial offensive pressure.
The scheduling challenge adds another element. MC will play Friday night in Huntsville before traveling to Montevallo for a 2 p.m. match Saturday, giving the Choctaws less than 24 hours between first serves.
Matchday information and live coverage
Friday, Oct. 2 — MC at UAH
Saturday, Oct. 3 — MC at Montevallo
For Choctaw fans unable to make the road trip, both matches will be available through FloCollege, with a subscription required for video coverage. Live statistics will also be available through the host institutions' athletics websites.
MC will look to turn its strong start to GSC play into another productive weekend as the Choctaws take on UAH Friday and Montevallo Saturday.
