MSU Set To Continue Road Trip, Faces Auburn On SEC Network

Sunday, October 16

Auburn, Ala.

12:00 PM

Mississippi State

Auburn

MSU coach David McFatrich will lead his squad into a Sunday showdown against Auburn, set for a 12 p.m. first serve on the SEC Network.

MSU Set To Continue Road Trip, Faces Auburn On SEC Network

October 15, 2016 | Volleyball

MSU Match Notes Watch On SEC Network +Live Stats

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Looking to bounce back from a pair of tough losses, the Mississippi State Bulldogs (11-9, 3-3 SEC) head back to the state of Alabama to face the Auburn Tigers (10-10, 4-3 SEC) for a Sunday afternoon showdown on the SEC Network.

Melissa Lee and Jenny Hazelwood will have the call for the match, which is slated to begin at 12 p.m. CT. This is the second meeting of the season between the Bulldogs and Tigers, as State took a 3-1 victory on Sept. 30 against Auburn in Starkville. Sunday's contest also marks the third match this year on national television for the Bulldogs.

Fans unable to catch the match on television will be able to view the contest on SEC Network + through WatchESPN.com or the ESPN app.

"We've talked a lot about how crucial of a stretch this is for us and it became even more so after the loss on Wednesday," MSU coach David McFatrich said. "This is an Auburn squad that is on a roll here lately, so we have our work cut out for us. However, I know that when this team is clicking, these girls are some of the best out there."

The Dogs are aiming to rebound after a 3-1 loss to Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday night. State jumped out in front by taking the first set, but could not turn back the Tide, as the home team pushed ahead for a four-set victory.

Freshman Emily Hill will look to duplicate her performance from earlier in the season against the Tigers where the Denton, Texas native turned in a career-high 24 kills en route to MSU's 3-1 win. For the season, Hill has total 234 kills, which is second on the team and also second amongst freshmen in the SEC.

Joining Hill on the attack are senior Evie Grace Singleton and junior Jelena Vujcin. Singleton leads the team with 313 kills (second in SEC, 20^th in NCAA), while Vujcin stands third with 196.

Singleton has been deadly across the board this season, with her service game being the most potent weapon in her arsenal. She currently tops the league and is sixth nationally with 37 total aces on the year.

Helping steer a Bulldog offense that ranks second in the SEC and top 30 in the NCAA in both kills (987) and assists (917) is sophomore Blossom Sato. Sato's 572 assists lead the team and have her career total up to 1,444, which is 10^th all-time in MSU history.

Perhaps the most impressive part of the 2016 Bulldogs has been their blocking. With 171.5 total block, State leads the SEC and stands 41^st in the nation. Leading the blocking charge is senior Jazmyne Johnson, who tops the team with 94 denials. Her 94 is currently second-best in the conference and 20^th in the NCAA. It also stands as the most total blocks through the first 20 matches of a season in Bulldog history.

Rounding out the MSU squad are defensive specialists Cheyenne Spell and Payton Harris. Spell leads the team with 240 digs, while Harris follows close behind with 239. The two have both seen time as MSU's libero this season, with Spell starting at the spot in the last nine matches.

"We've put in a lot of work in the gym these last few days and these girls are ready to get back out there and get everything back on track," McFatrich said.

Following Sunday's battle, the Dogs will close out their three-match road trip with a journey down to Gainesville, Fla., to face the No. 9 Florida Gators (15-2, 5-1 SEC). The Friday night match is slated for a 6 p.m. CT first serve on SEC Network +.

Match Day Info…

Sunday, Oct. 15
Mississippi State (11-9, 3-3 SEC) at Auburn (10-10, 4-3 SEC) – 12 p.m. CT
SEC Network (Melissa Lee & Jenny Hazelwood)
Auburn, Ala.
Auburn Arena

Last Time Out…
The Bulldogs opened up their three-match road trip with a 3-1 loss at Alabama on Wednesday. Much like the 2015 showdown in Tuscaloosa, State opened up the match with a first-set victory before falling in the next three.

Wednesday, Oct. 12
Alabama def. Mississippi State, 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-21)

Leading The Bulldogs…

Kills: Evie Grace Singleton, 313
Assists: Blossom Sato, 572
Aces: Evie Grace Singleton, 37
Digs: Cheyenne Spell, 240
Blocks: Jazmyne Johnson, 94
Points: Evie Grace Singleton, 366.0

A Bulldog Win Would…

Be their seventh victory in Auburn and first since Nov. 13, 2011 (3-0)
Mark their first back-to-back wins against AU since 2011
Stand as their first season sweep of the Tigers since 2011
Put them six wins away from securing their second-straight winning season for the third time in school history and first since 2005-06

Series History…

Overall: Auburn leads, 37-21
In Auburn: Auburn leads, 21-6
Last Meeting: Mississippi State 3, Auburn 1 (Sept. 30, 2016 in Starkville)
Current Streak: Mississippi State, +1

Scouting The Auburn Tigers…
Auburn enters with a 10-10 record and going 4-3 in SEC play. The Tigers have won their last two matches, a 3-1 victory against Alabama and a sweep of Georgia, both coming at home.

Brenna McIlroy leads Auburn with 218 kills and 251.0 points, while Breanna Barksdale tops the team with 54 blocks. Alex Filley paces AU with 747 assists and Jesse Earl has a team-best 398 digs and 30 aces.

MSU Looks For Season Sweep Of The Tigers…
With a win on Sunday, the Bulldogs would accomplish a season sweep of the Tigers, a feat not accomplished since 2011. It would also mark the first back-to-back wins against Auburn since that year.

Magic Number Down To Six…
The countdown to a second-straight winning season is on for the Bulldogs. MSU's magic number is down to six for a winning season, which would put the Dogs at 17 wins for the year. It would mark the second-straight winning season for just the third time in school history and for the first since 2005-06.

Nine more wins would put MSU at 20 wins on the year, the first time that feat has been accomplished since 1989. It would also be just the fourth time in program history the Dogs have won 20 matches.

Several Bulldogs Climbing The Record Books…

Live Broadcast…
Sunday's match will be broadcasted nationally on SEC Network. Fans can also access the broadcast through WatchESPN.com or by clicking the link below.

Mississippi State at Auburn SEC Network + Broadcast

Live Stats…
Auburn will provide live stats for Sunday afternoon's contest. Fans can access them through the link below.

Mississippi State at Auburn Live Stats

Admission…
There is free admission into Sunday's match between the Bulldogs and Tigers at Auburn Arena.

Social Media…
For more information on Mississippi State volleyball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateVB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."