Mississippi State
Kentucky
Hot-Handed Wildcats Best V-Ball Bulldogs 3-0
September 21, 2008 | Volleyball
? Official Statistics (PDF)
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Crisp-hitting Kentucky hit at a sizzling .405 clip Sunday to power past Mississippi State (5-8, 0-2 SEC) in SEC volleyball competition at Memorial Coliseum. The Wildcats (11-2, 2-0 SEC) topped State in straight sets (25-16, 25-16, 25-8) en route to their seventh consecutive win of the season. The Bulldogs return to Starkville this weekend to open their 10-match SEC home schedule. State plays host to SEC West rival Auburn in a 1:30 p.m. match at the Newell-Grissom Building. State held its own against the Wildcats in the early going of the opening set, taking an 8-4 advantage during a 5-0 scoring run with freshman Leanna King at serve. Kentucky answered with a set-tying 4-0 run and used an efficient attack to take control of the set. Sarah Mendoza delivered six kills and UK hit at a .355 clip. Ioana Demian led State with four kills. State fell out of contention quickly in the next two sets. Kentucky reeled off seven consecutive points to open the second set and after the break blitzed to a 13-2 advantage. Sophomore middle blocker Ashley Newsome finished with seven kills, five coming during the second set. UK out-hit State .405 to .010 and parlayed strong play at the net into a 9.5 to 2.0 advantage in total team blocks. Libero Kayla Woodard led MSU with 10 digs.
