Mississippi State
Northwestern State
Dogs Rally Past EMU To Complete Saturday Tourney Sweep
September 12, 2009 | Volleyball
- Official Statistics (vs. Northwestern State)
- Official Statistics (vs. Northwestern State) (PDF)
- Official Statistics (vs. Eastern Michigan)
- Official Statistics (vs. Eastern Michigan) (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State rallied from a 2-0 deficit Saturday night to turn back Eastern Michigan in five sets and claim runner-up honors in the 2009 Bulldog Invitational at the Newell-Grissom Building.
The Bulldogs (4-7) registered a hard-fought straight-sets win (29-27, 25-15, 25-22) over Northwestern State in an earlier Saturday match. And in a match that lasted two hours and 14 minutes, State battled past Eastern Michigan 3-2 (27-29, 20-25, 26-24, 25-17, 18-16) to finish with a 2-1 worksheet for the weekend.
Arkansas State bested Eastern Michigan 3-1 Saturday afternoon to complete a 3-0 run and claim tournament title.
"This was a great way to finish our non-conference schedule," said first-year head coach Jenny Hazelwood. "I'm really proud of the girls and the way they came out and competed. There have been so many times this year when we've come within a play here or there of getting a win. Today we showed the determination that it takes to compete successfully."
"This was a great team win tonight, and Ioana (Demian) and Ashley (Newsome) were awesome," she added.
The duo combined for 38 kills in Saturday night's win over Eastern Michigan and represented State on the Bulldog Invitational All-Tournament team. Demian tallied a season-high 20 kills and hit .450 for the night while Newsome registered a double-double with 18 kills and a career-high 15 digs.
Sophomore Kellye Jordan, who drew starts in both Saturday matches, finished with a career-best 12 kills.
Also reaching double-double status for State were Caitlin Rance (27 assists/14 kills) and Hillary Parker (25 assists and 10 digs). MSU libero Kayla Woodard took match honros with 27 digs.
EMU amassed a 74-63 edge in kills, with Rachel Iaquaniello, an all-tournament team selection, taking match honors with 23.
Newsome nailed a career-best 19 kills in Saturday's win over Northwestern State. It was the second career-best performance in three matches for Newsome, who piled up 18 kills in a midweek battle with Southern Miss. Against the Demons, the Florence, Ala., product hit at a .455 clip and tallied nine digs. Sophomore Caitlin Rance chipped in 13 kills and had but one attack error on a .571 hitting performance.
Northwestern State got 13 kills from Yelena Enwere.
State hit at a .305 clip, its second-highest attack percentage of the season.
Newsome finished the weekend with 49 kills 30 digs and nine blocks while Demian tallied 40 kills.
The Bulldogs wrap up a six-match home stand and begin 2009 SEC competition hosting Auburn Sept. 18 and Georgia Sept. 20 at the Newell-Grissom Building.
Bulldog Invitational All-Tournament Team
Arkansas State --- Cayla Fielder (MVP) and Heather Bowman
Mississippi State --- Ioana Demian and Ashley Newsome
Eastern Michigan --- Rachel Iaquaniello
Northwestern State --- Brittany Fruge
