Mississippi State
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Volleyball Bulldogs Open Season, MSU Classic Blanking UAPB
August 29, 2008 | Volleyball
? Official Statistics (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State successfully raised the curtains on its 2008 volleyball season Friday night, besting Arkansas-Pine Bluff in straight sets in opening round competition at the two-day MSU Classic. The Bulldogs topped the Lady Lions 25-15, 25-11, 25-23 for State's fifth consecutive season-opening win under head coach Tina Seals.
"With so many new players in our program this year, we knew going into the match that we have to take things one step at a time," said Seals. "Tonight was one of those steps. We lost our focus a little in that final set, but we were able to come up with the plays when we needed them to preserve the shutout."
The Bulldogs test Troy University at 10 a.m. Saturday and close out the MSU Classic with a 7 p.m. match against Colorado.
Outside hitter Cristina Jucan, the lone senior on the youthful State squad, tallied a match-high seven kills on a .294 hitting night.
Sophomore middle blocker Ashley Newsome paced the Bulldogs at the net, backing her four-kill effort with five total blocks, including a pair of solo stops. MSU's other veteran outside hitter, junior Ioana Demian, finished with four kills and seven digs. Sophomore libero Kayla Woodard tallied a match-leading 10 digs while Demian added seven. Junior setter Dorey Gray finished with 20 assists.
Five of Mississippi State's school-record nine freshmen made their collegiate debuts in Friday's winover UAPB. Rookie Faith Steinwedell had six kills and three assisted blocks while yearling Mandy Mellencamp hit a team-best .333 with five kills and served up three aces.
Mellencamp and Jucan registered three kills each in the second set when the Bulldogs hit at a match-best .400 clip. State was unable to maintain that pace in the third set, trailing 21-19 before rallying to out-point the Lady Lions 6-2 down the stretch to nail down the win.
Jasmine Jacobs led UAPB with four kills and Mica Franklin finished with seven digs.
Colorado also posted a season and tournament-opening win Friday, turning back Troy University in straight sets, 25-20, 25-19, 25-22. Alex Buth and Amber Sutherland recorded 13 kills and 11 kills respectively, while Troy got an eight-kill performance by Aubre Smith.
The MSU Classic continues with four matches Saturday at the Newell-Grissom Building, where there is no charge for admission.
