The Mississippi State volleyball team is ready for the second half of SEC play to continue. It began with a tough loss to Ole Miss on Sunday, but the weekend saw some chart-climbing for a few Bulldogs.
Senior Ashley Newsome, the current SEC leader in blocks, finished the weekend with 369 blocks, moving to third on MSU’s all-time blocks list. Senior Kayla Woodard jumped to fourth on all-time digs after recording 15 in both matches last weekend. The Bulldogs’ season kills leader Caitlin Rance set her own record with a career-best 17 digs against Ole Miss. Head coach Jenny Hazelwood said the team needs the girls to continue their outstanding play every time they step foot on the floor.
“Caitlin Rance and Ashley Newsome have been so steady for us offensively, and Kayla Woodard has really anchored us defensively,” Hazelwood said. “Those three have been really strong and really solid, and I don’t think that’s going to change.”
Another bright spot for the Bulldogs has been the play of freshman setter Paris Perret. She currently stands at third in the SEC with 742 assists and is on pace to become the seventh MSU player to reach the 1,000-assist mark in a single season. She is fourth on the team with 17 digs, and she has recorded five double-doubles so far this season.
Hazelwood said the freshman is well on her way to being a great player.
“Anytime you can come in and start as a freshman, especially in her position because she’s kind of like the quarterback, there’s a lot on you, and we put a lot of pressure on her to perform,” Hazelwood said. “She’s an outstanding young player that has the potential to be great, so we’re going to push her to be great everyday.”
The first half of SEC play was somewhat similar to Perret’s expectations, but she said there are a few things  on which the team is looking to improve.
“I expected it to be a fight. Obviously, we didn’t expect to do how we did this first go around, but this next go around we hope to win a lot more games,” Perret said.
After a tiring Homecoming weekend, the girls began preparing for two big road games this weekend against LSU and Arkansas. Tonight, the team plays SEC West co-leader and currently 17th ranked LSU. Hazelwood said the team is not intimidated going into Baton Rouge.
“They are well enough into the season and experienced enough that it’s not going to be an intimidating atmosphere,” Hazelwood said. “We’re so focused on executing what we’ve been working on in practice and improving where we need to improve so that we can have a good match.”
After this match, the team will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to take on the division rival Razorbacks. State defeated Arkansas in their first match winning 3-2.
Rance believes the second match against teams is easier because the girls will be more prepared and know what is coming.
“I think that every game we play will be close, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they all went to five games because, except for a few teams, everyone is pretty much on the same playing level,” Rance said. “I feel like all of them are going to be a fight.”