RUSTON, La. – Junior Jessica Bell (Cedar Hill, Tex.) was named to the All-Tournament Team after this weekend's Louisiana Tech Invitational. Mississippi Valley State lost all three matches over the two day tournament.
Valley fell 3-0 to Nicholls (13-25, 15-25, 6-25) and 3-0 to Louisiana Monroe (21-25, 13-25, 21-25) Friday (Sept. 13), and to the host Lady Techsters (17-25, 16-25, 18-25) Saturday (Sept. 14).
Bell - serving as libero for the Devilettes - registered 24 digs on the weekend, including 10 against Louisiana Monroe. She added service aces against the Warhawks and Techsters as well.
Additional top performers for Valley include Tyler Caliste (New Orleans, La.) and her 44 assists on the weekend. Caliste also impressed in the Louisiana Monroe with 25 assists, a career high. Tylia Dixon (Chino, Calif.) led the team in kills with 21, and earned a double-double of 10 kills and 11 digs against the Warhawks.
Valley's toughest test came early in the weekend during the Nicholls matchup. The Colonels held the Devilettes to a negative hitting percentage while attacking at a .420 percentage. Mississippi Valley improved against the Warhawks, but were inhibited by 27 errors. In the finale the Devilettes managed to force numerous errors by Louisiana Tech, but struggled under their second negative percentage output of the tournament.
Mississippi Valley State will look to rebound with a trio of home matches. The Devilettes will face Southeastern Louisiana Wednesday (Sept. 18), Henderson State Sunday (Sept. 22) and Tougaloo Monday (Sept. 23).
