Mississippi State
4-8, 0-3SEC
Ole Miss
7-5, 1-2SEC
Bulldogs Bow 3-1 To Rebels In Oxford
September 22, 2012 | Volleyball
After dropping the opening set 25-18, the Bulldogs (4-8, 0-3 SEC) battled back into contention with a 26-24 win that knotted the match. UM did some bouncing of its own, though, claiming a closely-contested battle in the third set 25-23 and then salting the match away with a 25-12 win.
A trio of Bulldogs reached double figures in kills. Sophomore Lainey Wyman finished with 12 kills on a .292 hitting night and paced State at the net with three blocks. Freshman Taylor Scott tallied 11 kills and with 14 digs registered her fourth double-double of the campaign. Freshman Saran Nielsen added 10 kills.
The Rebels got a match-leading 15 kills from Kara Morgan, while setter Amanda Philpot notched her second triple-double with 10 kills, 40 assists and 12 digs.
UM held a 56-53 edge in kills and were dominant at the net, registering a 12-3 advantage in total team blocking. The Bulldogs, who opened the week leading the SEC in digs, got a 32-dig effort from SEC leader Roxanne McVey. Both teams finished with 72 digs.
The match marked the MSU debut of sophomore Kym Gordon, a transfer from Akron. Gordon, who went through spring training at MSU, rejoined the team this week and drew starting duty in the match.
State hit a match-best .276 in the opening set but led only once, 2-1. MSU stayed close throughout the second set, fending off a UM serve at set point and ringing up a win when Scott and Temperilli registered kills and Wyman and Temperilli combined for a set-clinching block.
UM claimed the pivotal third set when Philpot delivered five key kills. State led late at 19-18 on a kill delivered by Scott and later pulled even at 23-23. But a Bulldog service ace and a kill by UM's Allegra Wells sealed the set 25-23, and a Rebel romp in the final frame wrapped up the match for UM. Ole miss blitzed to a 7-1 lead in the fourth set and did not have an attack error while hitting .407.
The Bulldogs have an off day from competition Sunday before resuming league play hosting five-time defending SEC West champion LSU Friday (7 p.m.) and No. 13 Florida Sunday (12:30 p.m.).
