Mississippi State
Auburn
Tigers Blank State To Split Season Series
October 31, 2008 | Volleyball
? Official Statistics
AUBURN, Ala. - There was little trickery by Auburn's Tigers and few treats for Mississippi State's Volleyball Bulldogs Friday night as the Tigers registered their first SEC victory of the campaign with a straight-sets (25-13, 25-13, 25-19) Halloween night win over State (6-18, 1-12 SEC). The victory gave the Tigers a split of the two-match season series and halted a series-longest three-match State win streak against the Tigers (6-18, 1-12 SEC). Kelly Fidero led a balanced Auburn attack with 10 kills, with Jonelle Wallace and Jessica Glover right behind with eight kills each. Glover also had a match-high five rejections. Ioana Demian tallied six kills and Mandy Mellencamp five to lead the Bulldogs. Ashley Newsome backed a four-kill effort with a team-best four blocks. State got the first point of the opening set on a kill by Demian. But the Tigers reeled off the next five to take command of the set and went on to register a 25-13 decision. Fidero had six kills in nine errorless attacks and Auburn hit .406 for the set. The Bulldogs never led in the second set. Auburn raced to an early 3-1 advantage, and after a kill by Kellye Jordan pulled State to within a point at 6-5, the Tigers took command with a 6-0 scoring spree. Auburn got a four-kill set from Wallace while holding State's top offensive threat, Ioana Demian, scoreless en route to another 25-13 win. State stayed close during the opening moments of the third set, tying the score at 6-6 on a kill by Demian. But the Tigers scored seven of the next eight points to get the set under control and went on to post a match-clinching 25-19 win in set three. The Tigers out-hit State .296 to .061 and amassed a 42-24 edge in kills. The Bulldogs continue their current SEC road trip next week, visiting Georgia Nov. 7 and LSU Nov. 9.
? Official Statistics (PDF)
