Mississippi State
11-19, 2-14SEC
Arkansas
16-12, 9-8SEC
Volleyball Drops Sunday Afternoon Three-Setter To Arkansas
November 24, 2013 | Volleyball
“We just didn't execute and didn't play the level of volleyball we're capable of today,” fifth-year MSU head coach Jenny Hazelwood said. “It's disappointing after the way we played Friday night to come out the way we did today. After losing a key member of our team with two matches left, we will see who steps up to the challenge to help finish this season on a positive note.”
Set one opened with several back-and-forth battles, beginning with Arkansas taking a quick 3-1 lead. MSU fought back to tie it at seven. The Hogs would force State into a timeout with a 13-10 lead but the Bulldogs responded with a 5-1 run to take a 15-14 advantage of their own. After a Razorback timeout, they went on an 11-1 run to clinch the opener 25-16. MSU only recorded five kills in the set, two of which came from freshman setter Suzanne Horner.
Arkansas claimed the second set in similar fashion. The Dogs again fell behind 3-1 early but rebounded to tie it at seven. UA had seen enough after pulling back ahead 12-8 to force Hazelwood into her first timeout. The Razorbacks would go on to claim another 25-16 win.
State never gained any traction in the third set as the Hogs raced out to a 5-2 lead and never looked back. The Bulldogs managed to pull within a pair of points twice but UA always responded. MSU dropped the clincher 25-12.
Sophomore libero Roxanne McVey added another 16 digs onto her season tally and expanded her MSU single-season record to 576. She also finished with a pair of assists on the afternoon.
Sophomore middle blocker Alex Warren also posted a strong outing with five blocks, four kills and four digs. Horner finished with 12 digs, two blocks, two digs and a service ace.
Taylor Scott turned in a team-best five kills to go along with eight digs.
State will returns home to face Alabama (23-8, 10-6) on Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. for Senior Night when it will honor the team's lone senior, Dani McCree. The Bulldogs will then wrap up the season Nov. 30 at Tennessee (9-22, 1-16).
Fans can follow the Mississippi State volleyball program on Twitter @HailStateVB, Instagram @HailStateVB and Facebook at facebook.com/HailStateVB.
