When the women’s volleyball team of the Mississippi University for Women hosts Blackburn College at 7 p.m tomorrow for a quarterfinal match in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament, with it comes a couple of “firsts” for the school’s athletic department.
The match marks the first time in program history the Owls have played in the SLIAC postseason in volleyball and is the first time the school has hosted a conference playoff game in any sport. The No. 4-seeded Owls notched a 7-7 finish in SLIAC games to go along with a 10-20 overall conclusion to the regular season, which ended last Saturday in a 3-0 loss at Covenant College.
The No. 5-seeded Beavers also posted a 7-7 record in conference games to book a trip to the tournament and have played the Owls twice in the regular season, both 3-1 losses.
“We are excited and proud to be hosting a SLIAC event,” athletic director Buddy Foster said in a release. “This is just another opportunity to showcase all the wonderful things Columbus, and our campus, have to offer. It is also great for our fan base to be able to see a SLIAC championship event without having to travel, and I hope everyone takes the opportunity to come out and support the volleyball team. The ladies have worked hard this year and deserve the support.”
Tickets to the game are $5 for adults, $3 for students, who must show identification, and $3 for children. Children under 5-years-old are free of charge. Cash will be the only accepted form of payment.
Basketball
The W’s women’s basketball team has opened its season with an 0-2 start.
The season got underway Friday for the Owls in a 103-78 loss at Belhaven in which the team led 47-46 at halftime but was outscored 24-17 and 33-14 in the final two quarters. Fantasia Wilson led the team with 21 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, and Mia Bowen added 19 points, six rebounds and seven blocks. Both teams combined for 58 turnovers, 32 of which were committed by the Owls.
Savannah Hailey led Belhaven with 26 points, 13 rebounds and four steals, and Veronica Williams chipped in 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Extra players proved to be the difference in the game with the Blazers’ bench outscoring the Owls’ backups 39-19.
The W followed up with a 70-64 loss to Millsaps College the next day. The Majors clung to a 40-31 lead at halftime and managed to hold off the Owls, who outscored them 33-30 the rest of the way.
Bowen led the team with 24 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, and Conley Langford was the only other Owl to post double-digit points with 11. She also had five rebounds, two assists and two steals. They were matched by the Majors’ Garin Freeman, Tia Anderson and Elyse Warren, who all scored at least 11 points. Freeman led the way with 22 points and five assists, Anderson notched 18 points and four rebounds and Warren had a double double with 11 points and 16 boards.
The Owls (0-2) are back in action tomorrow at noon hosting Centenary College.
The W’s men’s basketball team got into action for the first time of the year in a 97-61 exhibition loss to Mississippi Valley State University.
The Owls were outscored 40-27 in the first half and 57-34 the rest of the way by the Delta Devils, who got a game-high 35 points from Michael James on 8-of-17 shooting from distance. Tray Haguley led the team with 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Tyler Shephard had nine points and three steals.
The Owls opened up their regular season yesterday at home against Huntingdon College.
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