Box Score DECATUR, Ga. – Despite playing close each set, the 2023 season debut for the Mississippi University for Women volleyball team did not go as hoped in a 3-0 loss to Toccoa Falls College at the Agnes Scott Labor Day Smash. In what was also the first-ever NCAA Division III contest for MUW, the Owls (0-1) fell to the Screaming Eagles (3-0) by set scores of 25-21, 25-20, 25-23 at Woodruff Gymnasium.
 
For the sake of posterity, The W's venture into NCAA III competition officially began at 3:08 p.m. Central Time, as the Owls received the serve from TFC. Just one minute later, junior Llayne Skinner registered the first D3 point on a kill.
 
Skinner would finish the match with team-leading totals of seven kills and 34 attempts. She also chipped in 10 digs and led the back row with 18 receptions.
 
Senior libero Maddy Suggs was errorless in 17 reception tries, as well. The Caledonia High School product had a match-high 23 digs.
 
Amonie Silas had the some of the best attack numbers for the Owls. Silas rolled up six kills and a .312 attack average in 16 attempts (making just one attack error).
 
MUW newcomer Haley Ridings had a team-best three blocks and four kills in her debut. Returning all-American Maggie Griggs added five kills to the Owls' coffers. Junior setter Hannah Duran had 15 assists and seven digs.
 
In the first two sets, Toccoa Falls led wire-to-wire. MUW found itself down 10-5 and head coach Halee Hensley took a timeout. An MUW run saw the team climb to within two points – 16-18 – but the3y could get no closer.
 
Similarly, in set two, a late charge saw The W climb to within a pair of points, 19-21, that elicited a timeout by TFC. The Screaming Eagles came out of the stoppage and closed out the set on a 4-1 run.
 
In the third set, a kill by Griggs and two serve winners from Suggs saw the Owls flip an nearly 2-1 deficit to a 4-2 lead. But four unanswered TFC points gave them a 6-4 lead and the upper hand the rest of the way. MUW clawed to within a single point late (23-24) with the serve, but could convert the potential tying point.
 
"The girls played really well tonight," Hensley said. "That's the fastest we have ran offensively probably since we brought back sports. Great things are going to happen this season."