Mississippi State
Georgia
State Drops Straight-Sets Decision At Georgia
November 07, 2008 | Volleyball
? Official Statistics ATHENS, Ga. - SEC kills leader Maria Taylor totaled 13 kills Friday night leading Georgia (15-11, 8-7 SEC) to a straight-sets volleyball win over Mississippi State (6-19, 1-13 SEC) at the UG's Ramsey Student Center. Georgia never trailed in the match, winning 25-19, 25-16, 25-15 and handing State its 11th consecutive setback.
Junior outside hitter Ioana Demian registered a team-best eight kills on a .333 hitting night to carry the night for State. Freshman Kellye Jordan registered four kills off the bench while Kalya Woodard finished with a match-high 18 digs. State got off to a slow start in the match, falling behind 5-1 in the opening set. But the visiting Bulldogs battled back, closing the deficit to a single point four times, the last at 12-11. But Georgia, riding the four-kill showing by Erika Clark, built out its lead with a 5-0 run en route to a 25-19 win. Ioana Demian led State in the set with three kills. Georgia led from start to finish in the second set. Maria Taylor took charge with three consecutive kills to open the set. Ashley Newsome and Ioana Demian combined for a block and Demian delivered a kill that tightened the match at 4-3. But Georgia scored seven of the next eight points and hit .438 to take a 2-0 match lead with a 25-16 decision. Taylor tallied five kills. In the deciding third set, Mississippi State stayed close, tying the match four times in the early going. A kill by Dorey Gray knotted the score at 6-6. But Simone May put down a kill to break the tie and the homestanding Bulldogs never trailed the remainder of the set in winning the match-clincher 25-15. Setter Kelsey Nichols drew her first career start in the match, becoming the seventh MSU freshman to draw match-opening duties. UG out-hit State .367 to .119 and led in kills (41-22) and team blocks (9-3). Georgia also held an edge at the serving stripe with 11 aces. State served up two aces with six service errors. State concludes its weekend SEC road run in Baton Rouge, La., Sunday with a 1:30 p.m. (CST) match against Louisiana State.
? Official Statistics (PDF)
