MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Mississippi Christian (9-15, 6-6 Gulf South) defeated AUM (2-22, 0-13 Gulf South) 3-1 on Friday, taking the match 25-17, 23-25, 25-15, 25-21. The Choctaws hit .292 with 62 kills, including 18 kills and a .389 hitting percentage in the fourth set.
The Blue and Gold put away the first set with a 6-0 finish, turning a 19-17 edge into a 25-17 win behind a
Rhaia Davey kill, two
Meg Paparella kills from
Samarin Kipple and three AUM attack errors while
Reese Regner served the final five points. Earlier, MC faced early AUM serving pressure but answered a 7-4 deficit, with
Cydney Mitchell, Paparella and
Rylie Widener helping pull the set even at 7-7. After AUM moved back ahead 8-7, the Choctaws tied it on an error and took a 9-8 lead on Paparella's kill from Regner before Davey, Regner and Kipple contributed to a push to 13-9. Mitchell added back-to-back MC points later in the set, and after AUM closed within 19-17, the Choctaws controlled the final stretch to claim the opening set.
MC pushed the second set into the closing points and led 22-20 after a
Rhaia Davey kill, but AUM won five of the last six points to take the set 25-23. Earlier, the Choctaws opened with four straight points behind two Davey kills, a
Reese Regner ace and a
Meg Paparella kill, then answered AUM's first push with another Davey kill and a
Cydney Mitchell kill for a 7-4 edge. AUM moved in front 10-9, but the Blue and Gold repeatedly pulled the set back even or ahead, getting kills from Mitchell, Davey and Regner as the score moved through a series of ties in the middle of the set. Mitchell supplied several late kills as MC built leads of 19-16 and 21-18, but after Davey put the Choctaws up 22-20, AUM closed with a Mya Lacey kill, two MC attack errors and two Chelsea Daffin kills around Davey's final answer.
The Blue and Gold built the third set around an early separation, turning a 1-1 score into an 11-2 advantage behind service runs from
Rylie Widener and
Cydney Mitchell. Widener's stretch included three AUM attack errors and blocks involving
Cydney Mitchell,
Harper Green and
Reese Regner, while Mitchell followed with a kill from
Samarin Kipple before serving four straight points. MC continued to answer AUM's sideouts with kills from
Harper Green,
Reese Regner,
Audrianna Green, Mitchell and
Rhaia Davey, with Regner repeatedly setting up the attack. After AUM cut the margin to 21-15, Davey delivered a kill,
Isabella Reyes added another from Regner, and the Choctaws scored the final four points to finish the set 25-15.
The Choctaws erased an 11-8 deficit in the fourth set, winning five of the next six points behind kills from
Rhaia Davey,
Meg Paparella and
Cydney Mitchell before
Samarin Kipple's service ace put MC ahead 13-12. Earlier, the Blue and Gold opened with
Cydney Mitchell finishing a
Reese Regner assist, but AUM answered with a stretch that pushed it in front 8-4. After AUM tied the set at 16-16, MC responded with a service error point, an AUM attack error and another Mitchell kill to move back ahead 19-16.
Reese Regner added two late kills, Davey put away a point from
Audrianna Green, and Reyes gave the Choctaws set point before an AUM attack error closed the 25-21 set win.
Cydney Mitchell led MC with 18 kills and 20.5 points while hitting .448 and adding two total blocks.
Rhaia Davey finished with 16 kills on a .519 hitting percentage and added one solo block.
Reese Regner recorded 40 assists, eight kills, eight digs, two service aces and one block assist.
Samarin Kipple collected 19 digs, seven assists and one service ace.
Up next, the Choctaws volleyball team travels to Valdosta, Ga., to face Valdosta State on Sunday, Oct. 25, at noon.
