Mississippi College rallied to defeat Montevallo 3-2 on Friday at A.E. Wood Coliseum in Clinton, Mississippi, winning the deciding set 15-13. The Choctaws moved ahead 10-8 after trailing 7-5, then held off a late Falcons push to secure the match.
Montevallo led 6-2 in the fifth set, but kills by Rhaia Davey and Mary Grace Foster, along with a Samarin Kipple service ace, brought Mississippi College within one. After the Falcons went up 7-5, the Choctaws took five of the next six points. Montevallo errors, a Meg Paparella kill and her service ace helped put Mississippi College in front.
Caroline Downey added three kills during the closing stretch, and Foster’s kill gave the Choctaws a 14-12 lead. Montevallo answered once before Cydney Mitchell ended the match with a kill assisted by Mamie Fromdahl.
Mitchell led Mississippi College with 14 kills, a .542 hitting percentage and 16 points. Davey also scored 16 points, with 13 kills, a .400 hitting percentage and three blocks. Reese Regner had 42 assists, seven digs and one ace. Paparella finished with 17 digs, eight kills and two aces.
The teams split the first four sets. Montevallo won the opener 25-20, and Mississippi College took the second 25-19. The Choctaws came back from a five-point deficit to win the third 25-20. Montevallo claimed the fourth by the same score, forcing the deciding set.
Mississippi College’s record stood at 11-16 overall and 8-7 in Gulf South Conference play. Montevallo was 18-8 overall and 10-5 in the conference. The Choctaws were scheduled to host UAH at 2 p.m. Saturday in Clinton.
