Mississippi State
7-23, 2-13
Georgia
13-15, 5-11
Warren Tallies Career Night; MSU Drops 3-1 Decision To Georgia
November 22, 2014 | Volleyball
ATHENS, Ga. – Despite a career-best offensive showing from junior Alex Warren, the Mississippi State volleyball Bulldogs (7-23, 2-13 SEC) dropped a tight 3-1 decision in Athens to the Georgia Bulldogs (13-15, 5-11 SEC) on Friday night.
Warren tallied 21 kills for the match, the most since Taylor Scott turned in 24 in last season's finale against Tennessee. Warren also set a career high with 21.0 points and tied a career high in digs with six.
MSU grabbed the lead early in the match and held it all the way through the media timeout. Out of the break, Georgia rattled off six-straight points to take an 18-15 lead. State would only come as close as two for the remainder of the set, as UGA took a 1-0 lead in the match with a 25-19 first-set victory.
Both sides traded blows for the early portion of the second frame, but MSU would grab a lead and hold in front the rest of the way. A 7-1 run was the highlight for MSU in the set. UGA would pull within three late, down 23-20, but State go on to seal the set off a kill from none other than Warren, taking the second set 25-21 and tying the match at a set apiece.
The night's third set began with another tight battle between the two squads of Bulldogs. UGA would take the lead at the 5-4 mark and remain in the lead until State earned kills from Chelsea Duhs and Warren to tie the frame at 13-all. Georgia would go on a 4-0 run from there, only to see MSU pull it close yet again. Down 19-17, MSU looked poised to draw even with UGA, but the home team used a 6-2 run to take the set, 25-19, and a 2-1 lead in the match.
MSU would shoot out of the gate in the fourth set, but it would not be enough. Georgia would tie the match twice before finally taking the lead at the 6-5 mark. State was able to pull as close as three points, but could not close the gap anymore, as Georgia went on to take the set, 25-17, and the match, 3-1.
Aside from Warren's 21 kills, MSU was also paced by Bali Leffall-Young and Duhs, who each had nine kills. Katlyn Mataya tallied 12 digs and Leticia Valente earned four blocks to lead the Bulldogs' defensive efforts.
Shelby Anderton earned her fifth 40-plus assist match of the season with 40 on the night. She also turned in 11 digs for her seventh double-double of the year.
Leading Georgia was Amanda Dachs, who earned 14 kills. Three other UGA Bulldogs also tallied double-digit kills. Desiree McCray led all players with six total blocks.
MSU returns to action on Sunday, Nov. 23, when the Bulldogs return home to host the No. 15 Kentucky Wildcats. First serve is set for 1 p.m. CT, on the SEC Network.
For more information and updates on Mississippi State volleyball, fans can follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at HailStateVB.
