Mississippi State’s volleyball team returns home after opening SEC play this past weekend by splitting with foes Auburn and Alabama. Now, the Bulldogs return home to face SEC East opponent South Carolina and then take on non-conference foe Jacksonville State. The MSU Volleydogs opened SEC play with a shutout of the Auburn Tigers 3-0.
“It’s always good to start with a win in the SEC,” Coach Brenda Bowlin said. “It gave us confidence and something to build on.”
Sunday, Mississippi State traveled to Alabama to face the defending SEC West champions. The Bulldogs went four games with the Crimson Tide but fell short, losing the match 3-1.
“We just didn’t play disciplined 100 percent of the time,” Bowlin said.
This Friday at 7 p.m., Mississippi State will play host to the No. 2 team of the Eastern division, the South Carolina Gamecocks.
“South Carolina has a tough team. They are very physical and athletic,” Bowlin said.
The Gamecocks went five games with national powerhouse, the Gators of Florida, in which the Gators won 3-2.
“It is a very good thing for us to be hosting South Carolina, rather than traveling to Columbia,” Bowlin said. “There is just something about home court advantage.”
Mississippi State will face another group of Gamecocks on Saturday when they play host to Jacksonville State from Jacksonville, Ala. at 4 p.m.
“Right now we are focused on one game at a time and right now that concentration is on South Carolina. We are just trying to get better one game at a time in every aspect,” Bowlin said.