Mississippi State University volleyball split their double header against the University of Arkansas Razorbacks this weekend.
The Bulldogs came hot out of the gate on Saturday with a 3-0 sweep of the Razorbacks [25-19, 25-21, 25-17]. Graduate senior Gabby Waden led MSU’s offense, and she recorded 16 kills and a .400 hit percentage. Waden also had one block and three digs on the defensive side. Junior Shania Cromartie recorded her third double-double of the season with 14 kills and 14 digs, while Lauren Myrick had her fourth double-double of the year with 13 kills and 13 digs.
Waden has secured 12 double-digit kills in the last 13 games, while Cromartie has had seven double-digit kills and five double-digit digs in the last 13 games.
After Saturday’s win against the Razorbacks, Bulldogs head coach Julie Darty Dennis said the game plan for success against the talented Razorbacks’ team was to execute and focus on the team’s identity.
“Arkansas is a super talented team and a well-coached team,” Dennis said about Saturday’s performance. “I am just proud of our girls. All week, we’ve been talking about game plan, executing at a high level and sustaining our level of play. We have pride in who we are. If we can win the serve and pass game and out-ball control people, then good stuff’s going to happen.”
Senior Gabby Coulter led the team with her eighth double-double. Coulter recorded 43 assists, 10 digs and one kill. Junior libero Lilly Gunter recorded digs, six assists and one ace for the day. Coulter has posted 30-plus assists, and Gunter has had 10-plus digs in the last 12 of 13 games.
As a team, the Volleydawgs compiled 66 digs, 52 kills, 50 assists and a .319 hitting percentage for Saturday’s outing against the Razorbacks.
Coach Dennis spoke to the media after the game on what it means to play at home against SEC opponents.
“It’s incredible,” Dennis said. “Even before a football game, we had fans here who were propelling us through the sets. It just means a lot that we got this support from our family. Being at home was such a gift. It was great to be at home.”
Sunday, the Bulldogs took the first set against Arkansas 25-15. However, the Razorbacks rallied to take the second and third sets 25-19 and 25-18. MSU fought hard to take the fourth set 25-23 and, in turn, forced a deciding fifth set, but the Razorbacks closed out Sunday’s match with a 15-8 win.
MSU’s Coulter recorded another double-double for the season with 37 assists, 16 digs, one kill and one block on top of it. Cromartie also added another double-double to the season with 19 kills and 16 digs.
After Sunday’s tough loss against the Razorbacks, coach Dennis said the Bulldogs lacked efficiency against Arkansas in game two.
“We just have to focus on the serve and pass in the first contact for us to be good and dialed in across the board,” Dennis said. “I didn’t think we were as efficient today. Arkansas definitely flipped a switch; they made a lot of great adjustments on us. This league is super tough, and it’s super hard to beat anybody in this league. If you’re not going to bring it, you’re going to struggle.”
Waden and Myrick each had 11 kills a piece in Sunday’s afternoon match. Waden also had six digs with three blocks, while Myrick had 11 digs and two aces. Gunter tallied 14 digs with five assists for the day.
Sania Petties and Deja Robinson added six kills to the total, with Petties having two blocks and five digs, and Robinson having three blocks in the match-up against the Razorbacks.
With a 9-5 overall record (2-2 in conference play), the Bulldogs travel to College Station, Texas, to face the Texas A&M Aggies Friday at 6 p.m. and again on Saturday at 4 p.m
