Mississippi State
6-2
Notre Dame
3-4
Bulldog Volleyball Drops 3-1 Decision At Notre Dame
September 12, 2015 | Volleyball
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Hitting the road for the first time this season, the Mississippi State volleyball Bulldogs (6-2) were unable to take down the home-standing Notre Dame Irish (3-4), falling 3-1 Friday night at the Purcell Pavilion.
The contest's first two sets were a back-and-forth affair, with Notre Dame taking the first frame, but MSU storming back in the second. However, coming out of intermission the Bulldogs could not find their rhythm, as the Irish took the third and fourth to capture the match, 3-1.
“We feel like we let the first game slip away, but came back strong in the second playing true Bulldog volleyball,” coach David McFatrich. “Notre Dame played a solid third and fourth set and came out on top. We are going to take a number of things from this match, get better and come back strong tomorrow.”
MSU received a valiant effort from junior Evie Grace Singleton, who tallied a season-high 15 kills and 18 points on the night. State also received a strong showing from its block, as its 14.0 total team blocks set a season high.
Notre Dame started off the match strong, going up four at one point, 9-5. MSU earned its first point of the night off a block from Singleton and Jazmyne Johnson, cutting the lead down to 9-7. The Bulldogs would fight their way back into the set, shutting down the Irish lead and tying it at 14-14 behind a block from Chelsea Duhs and Emily Howard.
Both sides would trade punches throughout the remainder of the set until MSU would jump in front late, 18-17. State would push its lead to three, 21-18, but ND would claw its way back in, eventually pushing ahead to take the set, 28-26.
The second set would be where the Bulldogs shined the brightest, jumping out front 4-0 to start the frame. State would keep a steady lead until a late Notre Dame push tied the match at 22-all. Singleton's ninth and 10th kills of the set gave the Bulldogs set point, while Duhs put the nail in the coffin, sealing a 26-24 second-set victory.
The Maroon and White looked to jump out in front coming out of intermission, but could not find its rhythm. Using a number of adjustments and a raucous home crowd, Notre Dame pulled away midway through the set to go up 15-7. MSU would only be able to cut the lead to six, as ND pulled away for a 25-14 victory to go up 2-1 in the match.
Friday's fourth set spelled much of the same as the third for State. A number of small runs by the Irish kept MSU at bay, as Notre Dame went on to take the fourth set, 25-16, and the match, 3-1.
Along with Singleton's 15 kills, Howard turned in six kills and a season-high five blocks. Johnson turned in a team-leading seven blocks on the night, surpassing the 200-career blocks mark. Blossom Sato led MSU in assists with 34, her sixth 25-plus assists and fourth 30-plus assists match of the season.
Payton Harris led State with 21 digs for her second-straight match of 20-plus. Cheyenne Spell turned in a season-high 10 digs on the night, surpassing the 200-career digs mark.
Notre Dame's Haley Bonneval led all players with 16 kills, while Maddie Dilfer turned in 45 assists. Ryann Dejarld led all players in the match with 23 digs.
State returns to play tomorrow with a doubleheader against No. 1 Penn State and Eastern Kentucky. MSU will face the Nittany Lions at 9 a.m. CT, and then close out the day against the Colonels at 3:30 p.m.
For more information and updates on Mississippi State volleyball, fans can follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at HailStateVB.
