LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama volleyball team begins postseason play Thursday, Nov. 12, when the Tigers face No. 7 seed Mississippi Christian in the opening round of the Gulf South Conference Championship. First serve is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT at Spragins Hall in Huntsville, Alabama.
West Alabama enters the tournament with a 26-6 overall record and a 13-5 mark in conference play after closing the regular season with a straight-set victory over Trevecca Nazarene. The Tigers will look to carry that momentum into postseason competition as they face the Choctaws for the third time this season.
THE MATCHUP
West Alabama Volleyball vs. No. 7 Mississippi Christian
West Alabama: 26-6 (13-5 GSC) | Mississippi Christian: 11-19 (8-10 GSC)
Thursday, Nov. 12 | 1:30 p.m. CT
Spragins Hall | Huntsville, Ala.
LAST TIME OUT
West Alabama closed its regular season Saturday, Nov. 7, with a 3-0 victory over Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville, Tennessee. The Tigers controlled the opening set with a 25-15 win before holding off the Trojans 25-23 in the second and securing the sweep with a 25-18 third set.
Sophomore Klára Bobánová led the offensive effort with 15 kills and a .382 hitting percentage. Katerine Korre and Ola Winiarek each added eight kills, while Duru Seber contributed seven kills on a .545 hitting percentage.
Freshman setter Rachele Zanini directed the offense with 38 assists, while Charlotte Kerscher led the defensive effort with 16 digs.
The Tigers finished the match with 44 kills and a .227 hitting percentage while limiting Trevecca Nazarene to just 27 kills and a .075 hitting percentage.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
West Alabama enters postseason competition averaging 13.30 kills per set with a .253 team hitting percentage. The Tigers have totaled 1,490 kills, 1,345 assists and 238 service aces through 32 matches.
Bobánová leads the offensive attack with 384 kills, averaging 3.59 per set while hitting .295. Korre follows with 307 kills, while Jazlyn Snow has added 216 kills and a .320 hitting percentage.
Zanini has been instrumental in directing the Tigers' offense, recording 1,122 assists and averaging 10.29 per set. She also leads West Alabama with 53 service aces.
Defensively, Bailey Keef leads the team with 308 digs, followed closely by Zanini with 303 and Kerscher with 274. Seber anchors the Tigers at the net with 64 total blocks.
West Alabama enters the tournament following the announcement of several GSC postseason honors. Bobánová and Zanini earned First Team All-GSC recognition, while Korre and Snow were named to the Second Team. Zanini also received GSC Setter of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI CHRISTIAN
Mississippi Christian enters the postseason with an 11-19 overall record and an 8-10 mark in GSC play. The Choctaws closed their regular season with a four-set loss to Trevecca Nazarene on Nov. 6.
Cydney Mitchell leads Mississippi Christian with 227 kills and a .256 hitting percentage, while Meg Paparella has contributed 219 kills and a team-high 36 service aces. Mary Grace Foster adds 208 kills to the Choctaws' offensive attack.
Reese Regner directs the offense with 624 assists, averaging 5.52 per set, while Samarin Kipple leads the defensive effort with 545 digs.
Mississippi Christian averages 11.44 kills per set with a .146 hitting percentage. The Choctaws have also recorded 209 total blocks, led by Mitchell with 72.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Thursday's matchup will mark the third meeting between West Alabama and Mississippi Christian this season, with the two programs splitting their regular-season series.
The Tigers claimed the first meeting on Sept. 18 in Livingston, sweeping the Choctaws 25-18, 25-17 and 25-19.
Mississippi Christian responded in the second meeting on Oct. 17 in Clinton, Mississippi, earning a four-set victory. The Choctaws took the opening two sets 26-24 and 25-20 before West Alabama answered with a 25-18 third-set win. Mississippi Christian closed the match with a 25-21 victory in the fourth.
With the regular-season series tied at one match apiece, Thursday's postseason meeting provides an opportunity for the Tigers to break the tie and advance in the conference tournament.
LOOKING AHEAD
The winner of Thursday's matchup will advance in the Gulf South Conference Championship. West Alabama will look to extend its season and continue its pursuit of a conference title after finishing the regular season with 26 victories.
Fans can follow Thursday's 1:30 p.m. contest through live coverage on FloCollege and live statistics.
