Mississippi State
9-5 (1-2SEC)
LSU
13-0 (4-0SEC)
No. 17 LSU Powers Past VBall Bulldogs
September 26, 2010 | Volleyball
“LSU is well-coached and has so many ways that they can come at you --- that's why they're nationally ranked and in contention for the conference championship again,” said second-year MSU head coach Jenny Hazelwood. “We did a lot of good things at times, and at spots we were able to keep up with one of the best teams in college volleyball.”
But in the end LSU (13-0, 4-0 SEC) presented too much steady firepower for Mississippi State (9-5, 1-2 SEC). The Tigers doubled the Bulldogs in kills, 54-27, and out-hit State .358 to .143. Angela Bensend tallied 16 kills and 16 digs and led a foursome of Tigers reaching double figures in kills. Desiree Elliott, Michele Williams and Madie Jones had 10 kills apiece.
The Bulldogs got nine kills from team season kills leader Caitlin Rance and seven kills and two blocks from Ashley Newsome. Kellye Jordan paced the Bulldogs' defense with 10 digs.
In the opening set, State took an 11-10 lead on a setting miscue by the Tigers. But LSU reeled off the next six points, three on kills by Bensend, to get the game under control and hit at a match-best .457 rate to claim a 25-19 win in the opening set.
Senior middle blocker Ashley Newsome rang up five of her nine kills on the afternoon during the second set. The Bulldogs battled the Tigers down to the wire before bowing in a 25-23 tussle. MSU held several four-point leads before the Tigers pulled even at 13-13 and built out a four-point bulge of their own at 21-17. State trimmed the lead to a point four times before Bensend ended the set with a kill.
Caitlin Rance gave the Bulldogs a 7-5 advantage in the third set with the eighth of her team-leading nine kills. But the Tigers answered with a 6-0 run en route to a match-clinching 25-14 win. Michele Williams was the star of the set for LSU with six kills.
LSU held the Bulldogs to a season-low 27 kills in earning their fourth win in as many league outings this fall.
Attendance at the match was 478, the eighth-largest volleyball crowd at the Newell-Grissom Building and the third top-10 attendance total registered this season.
Following the 1-1 weekend showing, the Bulldogs hit the road for their next two matches. State visits Auburn for a 7 p.m. match Friday and ventures on to Athens, Ga., for a regionally-televised (FOX Sports Net South) match Sunday (12 p.m. CT) at Georgia.
