Volleyball Continues Historic Season-Opening Run
Volleyball improves to 10-0, tied for the best start in program history.
The Mississippi College volleyball team continued their dominant season-opening run with a win in four sets, 3-1, over Christian Brothers University Tuesday night in A.E. Wood Coliseum. The win improved the Choctaws’ winning streak to start the season to ten games. Their 10-0 record ties the program’s best ever start, set by the 1994 team which finished the season with a 21-8 record.
The Choctaws came out of the gate hot, winning their first set 25-16 and finishing out with a five-point run powered by senior Lexie Laurendine. The dominance continued into the second set, which the Choctaws won 25-9, allowing the second-fewest points in a set all season. The offense was equally impressive, going on runs of 11-1 and 9-0 on the back of aggressive play by Caroline Chastang and Lydia Paulette.
The Lady Bucs battled back in the third set. In a back-and-forth set in which neither team was able to pull away, CBU rallied to take a 25-22 win and force a fourth set.
The Choctaws responded in the fourth set by racing out to an early 7-2 lead and eventually expanding it to 20-12. The Lady Bucs closed the gap to 24-18, but the Choctaws quickly put an end to their run as Caroline Chastang recorded one last kill off a setup by Lexie Laurendine.
From an official attendance of 257, a large group of MC students filled up a majority of the courtside seats, creating an electric atmosphere. The crowd was on their feet for much of the third and fourth sets as their team chased history and responded with cheers, chants, and the appearance of the iconic tomahawk chop. MC mascot Tom A. Hawk was also in attendance, hyping up the fans in attendance.
The powerful Choctaw offense was driven once again by the passing prowess of Lexie Laurendine as she totaled 26 assists on the night along with six kills. Ali Wiggins also had an outstanding night with 15 assists. Caroline Chastang (12 kills) and Lydia Paulette (16) lead the way in kills for the Choctaws, as Paulette has 16 and Chastang, a freshman, had 12. Missy Beber led with 18 digs and added four service aces on the night.
Though they have yet to receive votes in the top 25, the Choctaws will be back in action this Friday, September 16, on the road at Montevallo and again on Saturday, September 18, at the University of Alabama-Huntsville.