Mississippi State
10-4
Alabama
6-8
Warren Tallies Career-High 23 Kills, MSU Falls To UA, 3-1
September 24, 2015 | Volleyball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Despite an astonishing performance from senior Alex Warren, the Mississippi State Bulldogs (10-4, 0-1 SEC) couldn't withstand a Crimson Tide rally, as Alabama (6-8, 1-0 SEC) defeated MSU 3-1 Wednesday night.
The Bulldogs were paced by their senior from start to finish, as Warren tallied a career-high 23 kills to lead all players on the night. The performance was Warren's second 20-plus kill showing of the year, as she tied her previous career high of 21 earlier in the season against Chattanooga.
State brought the energy and momentum throughout the first set, taking a 1-0 lead in the match. However, the Crimson Tide stonewalled the Bulldogs in the second and third sets, keeping MSU below the 20-point mark to take a 2-1 lead in the match. UA used a late push in the fourth to secure its victory, taking the final set, 25-20, and the match, 3-1.
“I cannot say enough about the performance of Alex [Warren] tonight,” MSU coach David McFatrich said. “She left it all out on the court tonight. As a team, we just were not hitting on all cylinders. That is a tough one to lose, but we'll learn from it, work even harder in practice and get better as a team.”
Warren was the key to MSU's first-set win, putting together 12 kills. Her first three came as the first three points of the match, setting the tone for the rest of the contest. MSU would go up by as much as five, but UA would eventually make its comeback, even going ahead by two, 16-14. However, Warren continued what she started, earning five kills to put MSU back in the lead for good as the Bulldogs won the first set, 25-21.
Alabama would use a strong attack and a number of Bulldog errors to jump in front in the match. Krystal Rivers earned eight total kills between sets two and three to lead the Crimson Tide to a 2-1 lead in the match. UA took the second set, 25-17, and the third set, 25-16.
The fourth would see MSU find its rhythm once again. A combined seven kills between Warren and Evie Grace Singleton would pace the Maroon and White throughout the match's final set. State would take a 12-10 lead midway through the frame before Tabitha Brown's service game led a 7-0 run for the home team that put UA up 17-12.
State would put together a run of its own, taking six of the next eight to pull itself within one, down 19-18. Despite the run, it would not be enough for MSU, as three-straight errors put the match in the hands of the Crimson Tide, who went on to take the fourth set, 25-20, and the match, 3-1.
Along with Warren's 23 kills, Singleton tallied 12 on the night for her 10th double-digit kill showing of the season. Blossom Sato led the Bulldogs with her fourth 40-plus assist match of the season, earning 41 on the night.
Cheyenne Spell paced MSU in digs with 16, while Bali Leffall-Young led State with seven total blocks. As a team the Bulldogs enjoyed a successful night on the block, totaling 11 denials.
Kat Hudson led the Crimson Tide with 16 kills, while Sierra Wilson led all players with 44 assists. Natalie Murison was the match leader in digs with 18, while Krystal Rivers topped UA with eight total blocks.
The Bulldogs return to action this Sunday for a Magnolia State showdown against the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford. First serve is set for 2 p.m. CT, and will be nationally broadcasted 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.
