The volleyball Bulldogs of Mississippi State University closed out their non-conference schedule against the Blazers of UAB from Conference USA on Tuesday night at Newell-Grissom. The Blazers came in with an overall record of nine wins and 14 losses. UAB had three players in double digit kills as the Blazers took the match 3-1 over MSU. Kristi Lee led UAB in kills with 15. Shelley Greene added 14 kills, and Martina Shields supplied 13. UAB took the first two games before intermission 30-24 and 30-25.
MSU came back in game three, 30-24, and forced a game four despite a .111 hitting percentage. The Blazers went on a 7-1 run to start the fourth game and used a .515 hitting percentage to win the match 30-22.
The Bulldogs were led in kills by sophomores Tanika Taylor and Jennifer Rousey with 10 each. Freshman Ashley Sledge made her first career start as a Bulldog and recorded 8 kills for MSU.
MSU now looks ahead to the three home match stretch finale starting with this weekend’s action as State will host two other colleges from the state of Alabama, the Univeristy of Alabama (16-5) and Auburn University (1-19).
The Bulldogs will look for the sweep of Auburn on Sunday, as MSU shut out the Tigers in Auburn on Sept. 21. The Tigers are still in search of their first SEC victory. Junior Grace Boyd leads the Tigers with 175 kills.
MSU will look to split the season series with Alabama on Friday. The Crimson Tide visited Samford on Tuesday night and is looking for a repeat of the match in Tuscaloosa with the Bulldogs, as Bama won 3-1. Sophomore Jennifer Bibber will pace the attack for the Crimson Tide with 274 kills.
The Bulldogs will host SEC West foes in the final three home matches of the year starting today against Alabama at 7 p.m. and then Sunday versus Auburn at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs will close out the home stretch at Newell-Grissom against in-state, conference rival Mississippi.