Mississippi State
5-1
Mississippi Valley State
0-7
MSU Crowned Maroon Classic Champions Behind Warren's 21 Kills
September 06, 2015 | Volleyball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Behind an array of solid performances, highlighted by a career-high tying 21 kills from Alex Warren, the Mississippi State volleyball Bulldogs captured the 2015 Maroon Classic championship on Saturday at Newell-Grissom.
MSU downed Mississippi Valley State in straight sets to start the day, followed by a 3-1 victory against Chattanooga in the tournament title match at The Griss.
“Over this weekend I watched our team improve and I feel like we took a major step forward against a very good team in Chattanooga,” coach David McFatrich said. “I'm very proud of the fight these girls showed after dropping a first set that we knew we should have won. All in all, it feels great to win this tournament in front of our fans.
“I can't say enough about Alex Warren, who is the MVP of this weekend and deservingly so. She brought intensity with every point and was the true definition of fearless and aggressive.”
Warren, who was named the Maroon Classic MVP, tallied 36 total kills over the weekend. She also turned in a career-high 14 digs and 23.5 points against the Mocs. Payton Harris was named the tourney's Most Valuable Libero after putting together 33 digs in the tournament finale, her first 30-plus digs showing of the year.
Jazmyne Johnson, Blossom Sato and Evie Grace Singleton earned Maroon Classic All-Tournament Team honors for the Bulldogs.
The day started with MSU taking on in-state foe Mississippi Valley State for only the second time in history. The Bulldogs made quick work of the Devilettes, even limiting them to less than 10 in the first two sets.
After taking the first set 25-9, MSU turned on the pressure even more, limiting MVSU to just two point in the second frame, winning it 25-2. The score marked the lowest total the Bulldogs have held an opponent to since the 25-point scoring format was created in 2008.
MVSU showed fight in the final set of the match, but four kills from Jazmyne Johnson slammed the door on the Devilettes, as MSU took the final set 25-16 to complete the sweep.
Johnson led State in the first match with 10 kills and two blocks. Sato earned 17 assists, while Shelby Anderton turned in 10 for the match. Ericka Timberlake led all players with 10 digs.
State returned for a 7 p.m., first serve against the Mocs, who came in after defeating Stetson and MVSU in straight sets over the weekend. The two teams both came out swinging, trading points throughout a majority of the opening frame. MSU went up 23-22 late thanks to an error by the Mocs, but UTC would call for time, regroup and fire off three kills to take the set, 25-23.
The Maroon and White responded with a strong start to the second set, jumping ahead 7-0. UTC would claw its way back into the match, eventually going ahead 15-12. The two sides would swap time in the lead, but a late kill from Chelsea Duhs and a Moc error would tie the match at 1-1, taking the set 25-22.
Saturday night's third set would be much like its predecessors, as the two sides traded blows. Singleton would do her best to keep the Bulldogs in the set, putting together four kills in the frame, including her 500th-career kill. MSU would storm back to erase a UTC lead thanks to Alex Warren's sixth kill of the night, eventually taking the set 25-23.
Also of note in the third set was Duhs earning her 500th-career kill just before Singleton did. The two juniors combined for 19 kills on the night.
Play would stay level early on in the fourth, but a UTC attack error would give MSU a lead it would not relinquish. Warren's 21st kill of the night set up match point for MSU and Singleton's 12th would seal it as State would keep the Mocs at bay, going on to take the set, 25-21, and the match, 3-1.
Johnson continued her impressive weekend at middle blocker, tying a career high with eight total blocks. Harris' 33 digs were tops for the match, while Sato set a new career high with 46 assists. As a team, MSU set a season high with 13 team blocks.
“This was a great weekend for us and our progression as a team,” McFatrich said. “Now we turn our focus to hitting the road for the next couple weeks. We just have to stay aggressive and keep improving like we are now.”
The Bulldogs return to action next weekend in South Bend, Ind., for the Golden Dome Invitational. State will join 2014 NCAA Champions Penn State and Eastern Kentucky, along with host Notre Dame.
For more information and updates on Mississippi State volleyball, fans can follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at HailStateVB.
