MSU Heads To Missouri For Sunday Afternoon Clash In Columbia

Sunday, October 30

Columbia, Mo.

1:30 PM

Mississippi State

Missouri

David McFatrich and the Bulldogs close out the week with a Sunday trip to Missouri, scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. CT first serve.

MSU Heads To Missouri For Sunday Afternoon Clash In Columbia

October 29, 2016 | Volleyball

MSU Match Notes SEC Network +Live Stats

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Looking to get back in the win column, the Mississippi State Bulldogs (12-12, 4-6 SEC) travel to Columbia, Mo., to take on the Missouri Tigers (18-4, 9-1 SEC) on Sunday afternoon.

First serve is set for 1:30 p.m. CT at the Hearnes Center, with the match be broadcast on the SEC Network +. Ben Arnet and Courtney Meek will have the call. Fans can access the match online at WatchESPN.com or on their phone/tablet through the ESPN app.

"We have a big opportunity on Sunday against one of the nation's top teams, but it's going to take a team effort," MSU coach David McFatrich said. "We've had some solid practices the last couple of days and now we have to translate it to the match. Obviously it's never going to be easy in the SEC, especially against a talented team like Missouri, but I have full confidence that when this team is clicking across the board that they can take on anyone in the country."

The Dogs will be looking for their first victory in program history against the Tigers, as Missouri holds an 8-0 advantage in the series. State took the opening set in its last meeting with Mizzou last year in Columbia, but ultimately fell in a 3-1 decision to MU.

A win would also move MSU just four wins away from securing its second-straight winning season. The Bulldogs have accomplished that feat three times in school history but not since the 2005-06 seasons.

After Sunday's match, the Maroon and White will return home for a weekend at The Griss. MSU will host South Carolina (15-6, 3-6 SEC) on Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. CT and No. 9 Florida (19-2, 9-1 SEC) on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 12 p.m. Both matches will be featured on SEC Network +.

Match Day Info…

Sunday, Oct. 30
Mississippi State (12-12, 4-6 SEC) at Missouri (18-4, 9-1 SEC) – 1:30 p.m. CT
SEC Network + (Ben Arnet & Courtney Meek)
Columbia, Mo.
Hearnes Center

Last Time Out…
The Dogs had a tough go of it on Wednesday, as they dropped a four-set decision at Arkansas. State captured the first set, but could not find victory in the next three, as the Razorbacks were able to edge out a victory.

Wednesday, Oct. 26
Arkansas def. Mississippi State, 3-1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-23, 27-25)

Leading The Bulldogs…

Kills: Evie Grace Singleton, 373
Assists: Blossom Sato, 685
Aces: Evie Grace Singleton, 43
Digs: Cheyenne Spell, 286
Blocks: Jazmyne Johnson, 109
Points: Evie Grace Singleton, 433.5

A Bulldog Win Would…

Be the program's first win in school history against Missouri
Tie sixth place for most SEC wins in a season (5)
Give MSU its second road SEC win of the year, tying last season for the most since earning three in 2011
Put them four wins away from securing their second-straight winning season for the third time in school history and first since 2005-06

Series History…

Overall: Missouri leads, 8-0
In Columbia: Missouri leads, 6-0
Last Meeting: Missouri def. Mississippi State, 3-1 (Oct. 23, 2015 in Columbia)
Current Streak: Missouri, +8

Scouting The Missouri Tigers…
Missouri is coming off its first SEC loss of the season, dropping a 3-1 decision at Texas A&M on Wednesday. They still remain at the top of the league with an 18-4 (9-1 SEC) record.

Melanie Crow leads MU with 269 kills and 36 aces. Courtney Eckenrode tops the team with 736 assists, while Alexa Ethridge's 316 digs pace the Tigers. Alyssa Munlyn is Missouri's top blocker with 105 total.

MSU Looks For Program's First Win Against Missouri ...
Should the Bulldogs earn a victory on Sunday afternoon, it would be a significant one for the Maroon and White. State has never defeated the Tigers, going 0-8 overall with an 0-6 record in Columbia.

Magic Number Down To Five ...
The countdown to a second-straight winning season is on for State. MSU's magic number is down to five after last Sunday's win against Tennessee, 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 first since 2005-06.

Eight 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.

Moving Up The SEC Wins Chart…
A victory on Sunday would also move MSU to 5 SEC wins on the season, which would tie for the sixth-most conference wins in school history and put State one short of its 2015 total. The two road SEC wins would tie last year's mark as well, which stands as the most since recording three in 2011.

Winning The Attacking Battle Is Crucial ...
To say coming out on top in the hitting percentage battle is key for the Bulldogs may be an understatement. MSU is undefeated this year when out-hitting its opponent and is 1-12 when losing the attacking battle. MSU took down Tennessee in its SEC opener for its first win when losing the attacking battle, hitting .204 to the Volunteers' .278.

The First Set Is The Key ...
One early trend discovered with the 2016 Bulldogs lies within the first set. State is 10-4 when capturing the first set, but when 2-8 when unable to do so. Winning the first two sets almost assures the Bulldogs of victory, as they are 8-1 this year when doing so.

State Bringing Blocking Back In Style ...
MSU has excelled in a number of statistical categories this season, but none have been better than the Bulldogs' blocking game. State has tallied nine double-digit block performances this season so far and have earned 206.5 total. The nine matches with 10-plus blocks are the most in a season since recording nine in 2011.

Harris Chasing The MSU's Digs Record ...
Sophomore Payton Harris eclipsed the 1,000 digs mark for her career last season and has her sights set on the school record of 1,707, which is held by Melissa Kariker (1993-96). With 17 on Wednesday, she passed Kayla Woodard (2007-10) for sole possession of third place.

Johnson Top On The Block ...
Senior Jazmyne Johnson has been a stud so far this year defensively, leading MSU's blocking presence with 109 total. She is the first Bulldog since Lainey Wyman in 2011 to record 100 total blocks in a season.

Johnson's blocking prowess also has her close to etching her name in the Bulldog record books. She now stands just 4 blocks away from tying for 10th place on the MSU single-season blocks list.

Hill Putting Together Impressive Freshman Campaign…
Through 24 matches, Emily Hill has put together one of the more impressive freshman campaigns this season. With 279 kills, Hill is second amongst all freshmen in the SEC. She now has the sixth-most kills in a season by an MSU freshman and the seventh-most attacks (738).

Sato Making Moves Up The Top 10 Charts…
She's just a sophomore, but already making moves in the MSU record book. After earning 38 assists on Wednesday, Blossom Sato moved her career total to 1,557 and jumped two spots, now standing in eighth place.

Live Broadcast…
Sunday's match will be featured on SEC Network +.. Fans can access the broadcast online through WatchESPN.com, the ESPN app or by clicking the link below.

Mississippi State at Missouri SEC Network + Broadcast

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

Mississippi State at Missouri Live Stats

Admission…
General admission tickets for Sunday's match are $5 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors. For more information, call the Mizzou Ticket Office at 1-800-CAT-PAWS.

Up Next…
MSU will be back home next weekend, as they host South Carolina and No. 9 Florida at Newell-Grissom. The Bulldogs and Gamecocks are set for a 7 p.m. CT first serve on Friday, Nov. 4 before closing out the weekend on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 12 p.m. against the Gators.

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."