Mississippi State
7-25, 2-15SEC
Texas A&M
20-8, 12-5SEC
Bulldogs Fall In Three Sets To Texas A&M In 2014 Home Finale
November 27, 2014 | Volleyball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – In the 2014 home finale, the Mississippi State volleyball Bulldogs (7-25, 2-15 SEC) fell in a 3-0 decision to the Texas A&M Aggies (20-8, 12-5 SEC) on Wednesday night at the Newell-Grissom Building.
The loss closes out State's 2014 home slate, as it will now turn attention to the season finale on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Auburn. First serve is set for 12 p.m. CT, and will be broadcast on the SEC Network +.
After Leticia Valente started off the match with a kill to give MSU the lead, TAMU responded by grabbing the lead behind three-straight kills. The Bulldogs would pull within one twice, but a 7-1 run pushed the Aggies ahead for good in the first set. A&M would push ahead by as much as seven before the Bulldogs attempted a late rally to try and get back in the set. MSU pulled within seven after a 5-1 run, but it would not be enough, as the Aggies took the opening frame, 25-14.
The second set started off more in favor of the Bulldogs, as State jumped out to a 4-1 lead to start things off. However, a 6-1 run from the Aggies put the visitors in front, 7-5. Both sides would trade blows until a 3-0 stretch for A&M would force an MSU timeout. The Aggies would score three more out of the timeout, grabbing the lead and not letting go, moving on to take the set and a 2-0 lead, 25-18.
Play in the night's third set started off in the Aggies' favor, but saw the Maroon and White claw back in to the frame. Down two, MSU looked poised to draw even until A&M used a 5-1 run to force a Bulldog timeout. A 3-1 run for the Aggies out of MSU's first timeout would prompt another break in the action for the Maroon and White, but A&M would keep its foot on the pedal. Texas A&M closed out the set and the match with a 12-2 stretch, taking the final frame, 25-10, and the contest, 3-0.
MSU was paced by Alex Warren, who turned in 10 kills on the night, pushing her pass the 300-kill mark for the season. The 10 also marked the 20th time she has led the squad in kills, a team high. Shelby Anderton was a key asset to the MSU attack, as she posted a match-high 24 assists, eclipsing the 2,500 career assists mark.
Defensively, Payton Harris led the way with 20 digs, upping her season total to 715, making her the first player in program history and the second in SEC history to crack the 700-dig mark in a season. Ellen Stuart also turned in one of the best defensive showings of her career, tallying a career-high 15 digs against the Aggies.
Emily Hardesty led A&M with 10 kills on the night, while three Aggies logged double-digit digs. Shelby Sullivan led all players with seven total blocks.
For more information and updates on Mississippi State volleyball, fans can follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at HailStateVB.
