Mississippi State
0-2
Tennessee-Martin
2-0
Rance Shines In Volleyball Bulldogs' Initial Win Of The Campaign
August 28, 2011 | Volleyball
The senior co-captain from Kingwood, Texas, closed out the opening weekend with a 14-kill, 18-dig showing Saturday night as the Bulldogs topped the Lions 25-10, 25-9, 26-24. Earlier in the day State dropped a 3-1 decision eventual tourney champion Tennessee-Martin (22-25, 25-16, 20-25, 23-25). In that match Rance finished with a match-leading 16 kills and 10 digs. For the weekend Rance, who represented Mississippi State on the all-tournament team, piled up 52 kills 39, including Saturday night's career-high 18.
The Bulldogs continue their early-season non-conference tournament play and make their road debut this weekend, traveling to Stockton, Calif., for the Community Bankers Classic hosted by the University of the Pacific.
After hitting a weekend-low .133 in the loss to UT-Martin, the Bulldogs thundered back to claim their tournament finale. With a revamped lineup that at times included freshmen Alex Scott, Sarah Temperilli, Bentley Witte and Lainey Wyman, the Bulldogs committed but three attack errors over their first two sets and then fended off a late charge by the Lions to claim their first win of the campaign. Wyman, the early-season team leader with a .313 attack percentage, tallied nine kills against SLU.
MSU's other team captain, right side hitter Faith Steinwedell, turned in a career-best 20-dig effort in the loss to UT-Martin. Wyman established an early-season career-best with six blocks against the Skyhawks. The rookie from Plainfield, Ill., leads the club with 10 total blocks after three matches.
Saturday's tournament session drew a gathering of 564 to the Newell-Grissom Building and raised MSU's attendance total for the year to 4,152, thanks to Friday night's school and state-record attendance of 3,024.
Junior outside hitter Kelly Hogan took tourney MVP honors after the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks soared past the SIU Salukis in five sets to win this year's tournament championship. Kasey Elswick (UTM), Laura Thole (SIU), Bailey Yeager (SIU) and Kinsey Williams (SLU) joined Rance on the six-player all-tournament team. It was Rance's fourth consecutive all-tournament team honor spanning the past two seasons.
Mississippi State volleyball makes its first trip to the Golden State this weekend when the Bulldogs joined host Pacific, Army and Duquesne in the two-day Community Banker's Classic Sept. 2-3 in Stockton, Calif.
