After completing its first ever weekend road sweep against SEC opponents, the Mississippi State volleyball team will play its next four games at home. The Bulldogs traveled to Tuscaloosa and Oxford last weekend, where they defeated Alabama in straight sets and Ole Miss in a dramatic five-game finish.
Along with the steady play from senior outside hitter Caitlin Rance, who had the match high in kills for both matches, and freshman middle blocker Lainey Wyman, who recorded her first career double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs against Ole Miss, the defense for the Dogs was significant in the victories.
The back line for State has been mixed up throughout the season, but junior libero Hillary Parker played her position with ease and confidence last weekend. She registered 18 and 22 digs, respectively, leading the team both matches.
Head coach Jenny Hazelwood said after watching a replay of the Ole Miss match, she was even more impressed with the smart play of Parker.
“Hillary reached a point where she just made a huge mental shift and stepped up passing wise,” Hazelwood said. “She’s a great defensive player who reads really well. Hillary was a big part of what allowed us to win that match because she was so good back there.”
These two matches were key conference wins for MSU, but the team must refocus and prepare for two more SEC foes this weekend in Georgia and Auburn.
Georgia comes in with a 2-4 record in SEC play; however, Hazelwood said the team is much better than its record shows due to the return of a key injured player on the court.
“They are really solid at the outside hitter position, their right side is one of the strongest right sides in our league and they have a strong setter,” Hazelwood said. “We definitely are going to have to play well and be fully prepared and ready to execute our game plan because it won’t be an easy match.”
Since they have four players already in triple-figure kills, the girls from Athens bring an aggressive offensive attack into Starkville. Parker said the confident play of the defense will be able to get Georgia on its heels.
“Playing all of the positions in the back row has helped me gain confidence and know that I am a good player, and I need to be on the court,” Parker said. “Having that libero spot means that I am constantly on the floor, and if I have that confidence, I will do great and be able to help my team out.”
Sunday will present much of the same as the Bulldogs take on the Auburn Tigers. Again, this will prove to be a match where State’s defense must play solid. Freshman Bentley Witte leads the team in digs this season with 163, six ahead of Parker, and has quickly found her spot in the SEC.
Witte said she does not prefer one position over another on the back row because they are all fun. She said the experienced back row players such as Parker, Rance and junior Faith Steinwedell give her good advice during tough matches.
“They tell me just to stay calm, relaxed and do your thing back there, and don’t get frustrated with yourself and everyone else, and you will do fine,” Witte said.
On the offensive side of the ball, Rance has an opportunity to break into the list of MSU’s top 10 players of all time in kills with 24 kills this weekend. Rance is averaging 4.18 kills per set, which would place her on the list even if State plays the minimum number of possible games this weekend.
However, Rance does not keep much track of numbers; rather, she said the team needs to focus on the matches this weekend to get the wins.
“I know that if I don’t get a certain amount of kills during a game, it’s not going to help our team as a whole,” Rance said. “I know I have to do that, so I think about it, but I know it’s expected.”
Although neither Georgia nor Auburn is a ranked opponent, both matches provide State with an opportunity to keep inching its way atop the SEC standings. Hazelwood said her team never looks at a weekend and fails to be excited about it.
“The girls fully understand that every team in the league is really strong,” Hazelwood said. “The trickier part is just challenging ourselves everyday to be better and not settling after two good wins.”