Bulldogs launch 1st season with road win

Mississippi Gulf Coast volleyball coach Shayna Walsh has been on the job for more than a year, all building toward Saturday afternoon. Her Bulldogs took the court for the first time with a road matchup against Coastal Alabama-South after months of recruiting and a hectic first training camp.

Gulf Coast beat the Coyotes 25-12, 22-25, 25-20, 25-14, allowing them to head back to Perkinston as winners.

"It was a little surreal there at first," Walsh said. "We talked all the way here about how long we've waited for this and how excited we all are for it. We were finally here and about to go play for the first time, step on the floor and do all the things that we've been anticipating for a year. It was really awesome."

Cambell Herrington has five aces and 10 digs, and the big blocking tandem of Malorie Gaughf (Fr., Gulfport/Harrison Central) and Reese Sorrells (Fr., Picayune/Picayune) proved to be too much for the Coyotes.

After getting their footing in the first set, the Bulldogs pulled away.

"I will say it was a little shaky at first," Walsh said. "They were nervous. You could tell they were nervous in warmups. We were a little bit quiet. But once we got about five points in, they were off and rolling."

Gulf Coast got stuck in a couple of service reception rotations in the second set, but nearly rallied from a 22-17 deficit. Sorrells had one of her seven blocks to get her team within one at 23-22, but the Coyotes closed out the set.

Walsh called time out in the third set down 13-8, but a big save by Sydney Tague (Fr., Olive Branch/DeSoto Central) helped Gulf Coast tie it at 13. Herrington served six straight points to give the Bulldogs a 20-16 lead.

The Bulldogs gradually pulled away in the final set to claim the program's first victory of the modern era.

"We definitely have things that we need to work on, obviously," Walsh said. "But overall, I think that they did a really great job, and I'm really proud of them. Especially just having been together for three weeks. These guys have never played together ever, and I got a bunch of compliments today from people who can't believe that they've just been together for three weeks, the way that they are with each other, their energy and togetherness on the floor, and the way they support each other."

Gaughf led the Bulldogs with 11 blocks, and Mariah Hammond (Fr., Slidell La./Northshore) had seven kills. Tague and Lila Turner (Fr., Kiln/Hancock) ran the offense well, with 13 and 11 blocks, respectively.

The Bulldogs played the United States Sports University in an exhibition match following the Coastal game, cruising to a 25-9, 25-19, 25-8 win.

Gulf Coast plays its first home match Monday when Coastal makes the trip to Perk. First serve at Dantzler Arena is set for 6 p.m. Season passes and single-game tickets are on sale at http://mgcccbulldogs.com/tickets, and the game will be streamed at https://mgcccbulldogs.com/watch.

For more information on MGCCC's 12 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.