The 2016 Bulldogs wrapped up a 2016 season that saw them capture the best home season in history, break records and much more.
Home Success, Records Highlight 2016 Volleyball Season
December 02, 2016 | Volleyball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Despite a number of heartbreaking losses, there is no denying that the 2016 season for Mississippi State volleyball was one for the record books. From standout seniors to a freshman phenom and everything in between, it's time to take a look back at the 2016 Bulldog Volleyball season.
2016 Bulldog Leaders ...
Kills: Evie Grace Singleton, 499
Kills Per Set: Evie Grace Singleton, 3.96
Hitting Percentage: Jelena Vujcin, .260
Assists: Blossom Sato, 968
Assists Per Set: Blossom Sato, 7.87
Aces: Evie Grace Singleton, 54
Aces Per Set: Evie Grace Singleton, 0.43
Digs: Payton Harris, 348
Digs Per Set: Payton Harris, 3.05
Block Solos: Jazmyne Johnson, 23
Block Assists: Jazmyne Johnson, 113
Blocks: Jazmyne Johnson, 136
Blocks Per Set: Jazmyne Johnson, 1.09
Points: Evie Grace Singleton, 574.0
Points Per Set: Evie Grace Singleton, 4.56
Home Sweet Griss…
The Griss was very much friendly for the Bulldogs in 2016, as MSU racked up 11 victories at Newell-Grissom in 2016. That total sets the program record for home wins in a season, breaking the previous mark of 10 set in 2006 and 2015.
MSU also earned back-to-back 10-win seasons at home for the first time in school history and consecutive winning seasons at The Griss for the first time since 2005-07. This is only the second time the Dogs have accomplished that feat since moving to Newell in 1997.
Bulldogs Finish Impressive SEC Season…
With a 3-1 win in the season finale against Georgia, the Maroon and White capped the 2016 campaign with six SEC wins, which ties for fourth most in school history. It also marks the first time having consecutive five-win SEC seasons since 2004-07.
Fatch Continues To Shine After Year Two…
After capturing 14 wins in his second season at the helm, MSU leader David McFatrich became just the third coach in school history to earn 30 wins in his first two seasons on the job, winning 31 times. He is the first to do so since Gina Jacobellis won 35 games from 1979-80. McFatrich is also the second coach in MSU history to win 10-plus SEC games in his first two seasons, totaling 12 victories (Tina Seals, 11 wins, 2004-05 wins). That total is the most by any Bulldog head coach in their first two seasons.
Packing Out The Griss…
Since his arrival in January 2015, McFatrich has promised to make Newell-Grissom one of the top collegiate volleyball venues in all the nation. A key to that is bringing record crowds to The Griss and in 2016, fans have shown up in a big way. Eight of the Top 20 crowds in Griss history have come in the McFatrich era, with four this year, including 1,409 against Kansas in the season opener, the third-largest crowd in school history.
MSU Closes Out A Stellar 2016 Blocking Campaign…
Now that it is all set and done, the 2016 season will be looked at as one of the best blocking seasons in school history. State finished with 260.5 blocks, which stands eighth in the school record books. The Bulldogs had 12 matches with at least 10 blocks this season, which stands as the most in school history.
The 2016 Bulldogs also finished with the fourth-most block assists (395) and the 10th-highest blocks per set clip (2.07) in school history.
2016 Also The Year Of The Bulldog Attack…
Often overlooked has been the standout play of the Bulldogs' offense this season. State finished the season with 1,649 kills, which is fourth in school history. Add to that a .214 attack percentage (sixth) and 4,258 attack attempts (ninth) to round out the 2016 campaign.
The .214 clip marks the first .200-plus season hitting percentage for the Bulldogs since 2011 and is the highest since hitting .250 in 2006.
Bulldog Setters Have Monster Season…
Assisting the Bulldog attack has been MSU's setting game, which has totaled 1,543 assists. That total stands third in the school record books and is the most since recording 1,594 in 1997. The 12.25 assists per set average is the highest since 2013.
Service Line Domination…
A theme for MSU in 2016 has been domination from the service line. Led by Evie Grace Singleton's 54, the Bulldogs accumulated 160 on the year. That is the most since racking up a whopping 218 aces in 2007. Singleton also became the first Bulldog since Eva Kriegel in 2007 to record 50 aces in a season.
Winning The Attacking Battle Was Crucial ...
The hitting percentage battle was a major key for the Bulldogs in 2016. MSU was undefeated (12-0) this year when out-hitting its opponent, but was just 2-18 when losing that battle. MSU took down Tennessee in its SEC opener and Ole Miss on Nov. 16 for its two wins when hitting worse than its opponent.
Hit .300, Get A W ...
Looking more into how the hitting percentage game played into State's success in 2016, there's one mark that defined it all: .300. When the Bulldogs hit .300 or better, they went 5-0 this season. On the flip side, every time MSU allowed its opponents to hit .300 or above, it resulted in a Bulldog loss, as their opponents went 7-0.
Bulldogs Going Back In Time ...
Several totals from the Bulldogs' 2016 season marked the most/highest in nearly a decade. The full list is below...
260.5 blocks: Most since 1996 (341.0)
395 block assists: Most since 1996 (438)
1,649 kills: Most since 1997 (1,842)
1,543 assists: Most since 1997 (1,594)
2069.5 points: Most since 1997 (2245.0)
.214 hitting percentage: Highest since 2006 (.250)
160 service aces: Most since 2007 (218)
2.07 blocks per set: Highest since 2011 (2.30)
13.09 kills per set: Highest since 2013 (13.12)
12.25 assists per set: Highest since 2013 (12.37)
63 block solos: Most since 2014 (66)
MSU's Big Three Finishes Impressive 2016 Season…
The 2016 season for the Bulldogs on offense all came down to three key players: Evie Grace Singleton, Emily Hill and Jelena Vujcin. Singleton (499), Hill (382) and Vujcin (318) made up 73 percent of MSU's offense this season and marked the first time since 2000 that the Bulldogs have had three players with at least 300 kills in a season. That year, Christine Owen turned in 397, while Misty Hubenthal tallied 351 and Brianne Smedley earned 319.
Singleton and Hill also became just the second duo in school history to record at least 450 and 350 kills in a season, respectively. Christine Owen (513) and Jennifer Shupe (406) were the other Bulldogs to accomplish the feat, doing so in 1997.
Singleton Caps Outstanding Career With Standout Senior Season…
Evie Grace Singleton capped her impressive collegiate career with a senior season that lit up the record books. Singleton closed the year leading the Bulldogs with 499 kills, a 3.96 kills per set average, 54 aces, a 0.43 aces per set clip and 574.0 points. Singleton finished second on MSU's single-season kills list, while also capturing the school record for total attacks in a season with 1,398.
Her 27 kills against Little Rock on Sept. 2 set the school record for most kills in a four-set match and is the seventh-most kills in an overall match in program history.
Johnson Shines Bright In Final Match As A Bulldog…
Fellow senior Jazmyne Johnson also tallied a season to remember with one of the best blocking campaigns in school history. Johnson finished the year with a team-high 136 blocks, which is fourth on MSU's single-season list. Also, her 113 block assists tied for third in the MSU record books. She became the first Bulldog since 2011 to record over 100 blocks and tallied the most since All-SEC Bulldog Ashley Newsome tallied 137 in 2010.
The Freshman Phenom…
It wasn't just the seniors' show in 2016. Emily Hill put together one of the best rookie campaigns in school history this season, putting her name on several lists in the MSU record books. Hill finished second on the team with 382 kills, which also stands second amongst freshmen in the SEC. Her kills total is third in MSU freshman history, the most by a Bulldog rookie since 2013. She tallied 1,031 total attacks, also good for third.
She was also a standout on the defensive side of things, as her 57 total blocks cracked the MSU freshman Top 10 charts, tying her with Tiffany Schneider (1988) for 10th.
Sato Proves No Such Thing As A Sophomore Slump…
Blossom Sato finished her sophomore season with her second-straight 50-assist match of the season, as she earned 51 against Georgia. It was her third-career match with at least 50 assists. Prior to that, she racked up a career-high 58 against Arkansas, which currently stands as the most since Paris Perret earned 59 against LSU on Sept. 28, 2012.
Sato capped her season total at 968, besting her 2015 total of 872. She will enter the 2017 season with 1,840 assists, which holds strong at seventh on the MSU career list.
Carr Named To 2016 SEC Community Service Team ...
For Khris Carr, Starkville and Mississippi State are more than just places to spend your college years. For her, it's home. Her dedication to her hometown community was rewarded as she was named to the 2016 SEC Community Service Team.
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."
2016 Bulldog Leaders ...
Kills: Evie Grace Singleton, 499
Kills Per Set: Evie Grace Singleton, 3.96
Hitting Percentage: Jelena Vujcin, .260
Assists: Blossom Sato, 968
Assists Per Set: Blossom Sato, 7.87
Aces: Evie Grace Singleton, 54
Aces Per Set: Evie Grace Singleton, 0.43
Digs: Payton Harris, 348
Digs Per Set: Payton Harris, 3.05
Block Solos: Jazmyne Johnson, 23
Block Assists: Jazmyne Johnson, 113
Blocks: Jazmyne Johnson, 136
Blocks Per Set: Jazmyne Johnson, 1.09
Points: Evie Grace Singleton, 574.0
Points Per Set: Evie Grace Singleton, 4.56
Home Sweet Griss…
The Griss was very much friendly for the Bulldogs in 2016, as MSU racked up 11 victories at Newell-Grissom in 2016. That total sets the program record for home wins in a season, breaking the previous mark of 10 set in 2006 and 2015.
MSU also earned back-to-back 10-win seasons at home for the first time in school history and consecutive winning seasons at The Griss for the first time since 2005-07. This is only the second time the Dogs have accomplished that feat since moving to Newell in 1997.
Bulldogs Finish Impressive SEC Season…
With a 3-1 win in the season finale against Georgia, the Maroon and White capped the 2016 campaign with six SEC wins, which ties for fourth most in school history. It also marks the first time having consecutive five-win SEC seasons since 2004-07.
Fatch Continues To Shine After Year Two…
After capturing 14 wins in his second season at the helm, MSU leader David McFatrich became just the third coach in school history to earn 30 wins in his first two seasons on the job, winning 31 times. He is the first to do so since Gina Jacobellis won 35 games from 1979-80. McFatrich is also the second coach in MSU history to win 10-plus SEC games in his first two seasons, totaling 12 victories (Tina Seals, 11 wins, 2004-05 wins). That total is the most by any Bulldog head coach in their first two seasons.
Packing Out The Griss…
Since his arrival in January 2015, McFatrich has promised to make Newell-Grissom one of the top collegiate volleyball venues in all the nation. A key to that is bringing record crowds to The Griss and in 2016, fans have shown up in a big way. Eight of the Top 20 crowds in Griss history have come in the McFatrich era, with four this year, including 1,409 against Kansas in the season opener, the third-largest crowd in school history.
MSU Closes Out A Stellar 2016 Blocking Campaign…
Now that it is all set and done, the 2016 season will be looked at as one of the best blocking seasons in school history. State finished with 260.5 blocks, which stands eighth in the school record books. The Bulldogs had 12 matches with at least 10 blocks this season, which stands as the most in school history.
The 2016 Bulldogs also finished with the fourth-most block assists (395) and the 10th-highest blocks per set clip (2.07) in school history.
2016 Also The Year Of The Bulldog Attack…
Often overlooked has been the standout play of the Bulldogs' offense this season. State finished the season with 1,649 kills, which is fourth in school history. Add to that a .214 attack percentage (sixth) and 4,258 attack attempts (ninth) to round out the 2016 campaign.
The .214 clip marks the first .200-plus season hitting percentage for the Bulldogs since 2011 and is the highest since hitting .250 in 2006.
Bulldog Setters Have Monster Season…
Assisting the Bulldog attack has been MSU's setting game, which has totaled 1,543 assists. That total stands third in the school record books and is the most since recording 1,594 in 1997. The 12.25 assists per set average is the highest since 2013.
Service Line Domination…
A theme for MSU in 2016 has been domination from the service line. Led by Evie Grace Singleton's 54, the Bulldogs accumulated 160 on the year. That is the most since racking up a whopping 218 aces in 2007. Singleton also became the first Bulldog since Eva Kriegel in 2007 to record 50 aces in a season.
Winning The Attacking Battle Was Crucial ...
The hitting percentage battle was a major key for the Bulldogs in 2016. MSU was undefeated (12-0) this year when out-hitting its opponent, but was just 2-18 when losing that battle. MSU took down Tennessee in its SEC opener and Ole Miss on Nov. 16 for its two wins when hitting worse than its opponent.
Hit .300, Get A W ...
Looking more into how the hitting percentage game played into State's success in 2016, there's one mark that defined it all: .300. When the Bulldogs hit .300 or better, they went 5-0 this season. On the flip side, every time MSU allowed its opponents to hit .300 or above, it resulted in a Bulldog loss, as their opponents went 7-0.
Bulldogs Going Back In Time ...
Several totals from the Bulldogs' 2016 season marked the most/highest in nearly a decade. The full list is below...
260.5 blocks: Most since 1996 (341.0)
395 block assists: Most since 1996 (438)
1,649 kills: Most since 1997 (1,842)
1,543 assists: Most since 1997 (1,594)
2069.5 points: Most since 1997 (2245.0)
.214 hitting percentage: Highest since 2006 (.250)
160 service aces: Most since 2007 (218)
2.07 blocks per set: Highest since 2011 (2.30)
13.09 kills per set: Highest since 2013 (13.12)
12.25 assists per set: Highest since 2013 (12.37)
63 block solos: Most since 2014 (66)
MSU's Big Three Finishes Impressive 2016 Season…
The 2016 season for the Bulldogs on offense all came down to three key players: Evie Grace Singleton, Emily Hill and Jelena Vujcin. Singleton (499), Hill (382) and Vujcin (318) made up 73 percent of MSU's offense this season and marked the first time since 2000 that the Bulldogs have had three players with at least 300 kills in a season. That year, Christine Owen turned in 397, while Misty Hubenthal tallied 351 and Brianne Smedley earned 319.
Singleton and Hill also became just the second duo in school history to record at least 450 and 350 kills in a season, respectively. Christine Owen (513) and Jennifer Shupe (406) were the other Bulldogs to accomplish the feat, doing so in 1997.
Singleton Caps Outstanding Career With Standout Senior Season…
Evie Grace Singleton capped her impressive collegiate career with a senior season that lit up the record books. Singleton closed the year leading the Bulldogs with 499 kills, a 3.96 kills per set average, 54 aces, a 0.43 aces per set clip and 574.0 points. Singleton finished second on MSU's single-season kills list, while also capturing the school record for total attacks in a season with 1,398.
Her 27 kills against Little Rock on Sept. 2 set the school record for most kills in a four-set match and is the seventh-most kills in an overall match in program history.
Johnson Shines Bright In Final Match As A Bulldog…
Fellow senior Jazmyne Johnson also tallied a season to remember with one of the best blocking campaigns in school history. Johnson finished the year with a team-high 136 blocks, which is fourth on MSU's single-season list. Also, her 113 block assists tied for third in the MSU record books. She became the first Bulldog since 2011 to record over 100 blocks and tallied the most since All-SEC Bulldog Ashley Newsome tallied 137 in 2010.
The Freshman Phenom…
It wasn't just the seniors' show in 2016. Emily Hill put together one of the best rookie campaigns in school history this season, putting her name on several lists in the MSU record books. Hill finished second on the team with 382 kills, which also stands second amongst freshmen in the SEC. Her kills total is third in MSU freshman history, the most by a Bulldog rookie since 2013. She tallied 1,031 total attacks, also good for third.
She was also a standout on the defensive side of things, as her 57 total blocks cracked the MSU freshman Top 10 charts, tying her with Tiffany Schneider (1988) for 10th.
Sato Proves No Such Thing As A Sophomore Slump…
Blossom Sato finished her sophomore season with her second-straight 50-assist match of the season, as she earned 51 against Georgia. It was her third-career match with at least 50 assists. Prior to that, she racked up a career-high 58 against Arkansas, which currently stands as the most since Paris Perret earned 59 against LSU on Sept. 28, 2012.
Sato capped her season total at 968, besting her 2015 total of 872. She will enter the 2017 season with 1,840 assists, which holds strong at seventh on the MSU career list.
Carr Named To 2016 SEC Community Service Team ...
For Khris Carr, Starkville and Mississippi State are more than just places to spend your college years. For her, it's home. Her dedication to her hometown community was rewarded as she was named to the 2016 SEC Community Service Team.
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."
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