Mississippi State
6-22, 1-12SEC
Alabama
21-6, 9-4SEC
Bulldog Volleyball Falls In Straight Sets At Alabama
November 13, 2014 | Volleyball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Taking the court for the first time since last week, the Mississippi State volleyball Bulldogs (6-22, 1-12 SEC) fell in a 3-0 decision to the Alabama Crimson Tide (21-6, 9-4 SEC) in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday night.
The Bulldogs kept it close early in the first set, but a 6-0 run from the Crimson Tide gave the home team a 14-7 lead midway through the frame. MSU would pull as close as five several times, but could not close the gap any more, dropping the opening set, 25-18.
Wednesday's second set was a much tighter affair, as both sides traded time in the lead. Alabama looked poised to pull away after a 4-1 run gave the home squad an 11-7 lead, but MSU fought its way back into the frame. A 4-0 stretch brought the score even at 15-15, as both teams swapped time in front from there on out. Alabama would pull up by three, 21-18, but three-straight blocks courtesy of Leticia Valente, Shelby Anderton and Alex Warren once again brought the match even. State would tie it once more at 22-22, but UA would use a 3-0 run to seal the set, taking a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-22 second-set win.
Alabama jumped out of the gate with a 6-0 run to start the night's final set and did not relinquish the lead. MSU would pull as close as five in the set, but several runs, including a 6-0 streak late by the Crimson Tide, would seal the match for the home team. Alabama would go on to take the third frame, 25-16, and the match, 3-0.
Leading MSU on the night was Warren, who turned in 9 kills. Anderton turned in 25 assists on the night, giving her 20-plus in seven of the last eight matches.
Defensively for the Bulldogs, Valente led all players with six blocks, falling one short of her career high. Anderton was also heavily involved on the defensive side for MSU, earning a season high five blocks. Bali Leffall-Young also turned in five blocks on the night, including two solos, which ties her career high.
Payton Harris tallied 11 digs for the match, leading all players. Her 11 moves her season total to 648, passing Ellen Mullins (Tennessee, 2013) for third place on the SEC single-season digs list.
Leading Alabama was Kat Hutson, who had 13 kills for the Crimson Tide. Sierra Wilson led all players with 34 assists.
The Bulldogs will return home for their next action, as they host LSU on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 1:30 p.m. CT. Fans can catch all the action on the SEC Network +, which can be accessed through ESPN3.com or the WatchESPN app.
For more information and updates on Mississippi State volleyball, fans can follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at HailStateVB.
