2000 Mississippi State Volleyball Outlook
May 25, 2016 | Volleyball
Mississippi State charges into the new century and its fourth season under the guidance of head coach Brenda Bowlin with an interesting blend of returning veterans and promising newcomers.
The Bulldogs can count on the return of seven letter-winners --- three of them starters --- from the edition that posted an 11-16 overall record in Mississippi State volleyball's Silver Anniversary season last fall.
A pair of seniors, outside hitter Christine Owen (293 kills/252 digs) and middle blocker Brianne Smedley (320 kills/93 blocks) head up that collection of returning athletes.
Owen set the Mississippi State single season record with 513 kills as a freshman and is poised to become the fifth Bulldog to reach 1,000 kills and digs in a season. The two-time All-Southeastern Conference performer enters her final season with 1,200 kills 214 away from the MSU career record, and 881 digs.
Smedley, converted from outside hitter to middle blocker early in her sophomore season, has provided steady play and on-court leadership for the Bulldogs. The Arlington, Texas, product registered a career-best 320 kills as a junior, second-most on the club and tops among MSU's returnees, and a team-leading and career-best .271 hitting mark. She was also impressive at the net with a team-best 21 solo stops and 93 total blocks.
. "We're fortunate to have veteran players like Christine and Brianne in our program", said coach Brenda Bowlin. "During their careers they have demonstrated the ability to compete successfully in the SEC. With so many young players on our team this year, we're going to be relying on Chris and Brianne for leadership."
A third Bulldog, junior middle blocker Michele Gordon, also returns after drawing starting 17 of 27 matches in 1999. Gordon, from Littleton, Colo., enjoyed a career-best season with 182 kills, .198 hitting percentage and 82 total blocks.
A trio of other players picked up invaluable experience as starters at various times during the 1999 campaign, combining for 17 starts and 73 matches played.
Junior setter Dawn Steinhauser, used primarily as a defensive replacement her first two seasons, is poised to replace Jenny Hazelwood, MSU's departed record-breaking setter. Steinhauser, from Port Byron, Ill., played in 51 of 56 matches her first two years at State, drawing 17 starts.
Junior defensive specialist Katie Carraro from Louisville, Ky., stepped forward to have her best season last fall, starting seven of 27 matches played. Carraro led the club with 39 service aces and piled up 253 digs, fourth-highest mark on the team and second-most among MSU's returning players.
Freshman outside hitter Misty Hubenthal from Georgetown, Texas, made solid strides as a reserve player her initial collegiate season. She registered a pair of double-doubles, one in her first career start, and finished the year with a .200 hitting percentage.
Hard-working junior outside hitter Emily Mounger from Ridgeland, Miss., earned a berth on the team as a walkon last year and hit the court for action in a pair of matches.
A productive recruiting campaign by the Mississippi State staff has certainly brightened MSU's prospects for success in 2000 and in the seasons to come.
Mississippi State carried its talent search to Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and Texas. When that search ended, MSU had covered every position on the court in signing six talented high school standouts, easily the school's biggest recruiting class in recent years. It also rates as one of the tallest, with four of the signees standing six-feet tall.
The newcomers include Lauren Bounds (Arlington, Texas), Nicole Broome (Orlando, Fla.), Hilary Chambers (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Jennifer Hadden (Marysville, Mich.), Jennifer Rousey (Champaign Ill.) and Tanika Taylor (Rowlette, Texas).
"This is our biggest and most talented recruiting class since I've been at Mississippi State," said Bowlin. "We're eager for them to learn our system and challenge for playing time this fall."
Mississippi State must fill the shoes of a trio of departed four-year standouts record-breaking setter Jenny Hazelwood and outside hitters Melanie DiMuzio and Jennifer Shupe, a talented tandem who each surpassed the 300 mark in both kills and digs last year.
Following a season-opening Labor Day weekend tournament at the Air Force Academy, Mississippi State launches a 13-match home schedule Sept. 6, hosting Belmont and Sept. 8-9, entertaining Louisiana-Monroe, Centenary and Tennessee Tech in the MSU Invitational. The home slate also features a televised match with SEC rival Georgia Oct. 1, kicking off SEC-TV's 2000 volleyball coverage on FOX Sports Net South.
THE SCHEDULE
Thirteen home matches, including three in the Mississippi State University/Ramada Inn Invitational and two broadcast on television are part of the Bulldogs' 27-match schedule for 2000.
The Bulldogs open the season in scenic Colorado, competing Labor day weekend in the Air Force Academy Tournament.
And after hosting Louisiana-Monroe, Centenary and Tennessee Tech in the MSU/Ramada Inn Invitational Sept. 8-9 in Humphrey Coliseum, the Bulldogs wrap up September tournament schedule at the University of Memphis Invitational (Sept. 15-16).
The Bulldogs' 15-match Friday/Sunday conference schedule includes home matches with all five SEC Western Division rivals Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Louisiana State and Mississippi and Eastern Division opponents Florida and Georgia. MSU's non-conference home schedule includes matches with Belmont, Samford and Middle Tennessee State.
A top-eight conference finish (based on SEC winning percentage) would extend the Mississippi State schedule into late November and a date in the 2000 Southeastern Conference Volleyball Tournament, to be hosted by the University of Florida Nov. 17-19 in Gainesville, Fla.
MSU ON FOX SPORTS AGAIN
For the third time in the program's 26-year history and the third consecutive season, Mississippi State's Volleyball Bulldogs will be featured in a live telecast as part of the SEC-TV package on FOX Sports Net South.
The Mississippi State-Georgia volleyball match Sunday, October 1 at the Newell-Grissom Building is one of four Southeastern Conference matches tabbed for this fall's league television lineup.
MSU is 2-0 in FOX-televised matches, having topped in-state SEC rival Mississippi 3-1 in 1998 in the first live telecast of any type from the Newell-Grissom Building. And last fall the Bulldogs rallied from a 2-0 deficit to turn back SEC Western Division rival Auburn 3-2.
FOX Sports Net South's programming is available to 18 million subscribers throughout the nine-state SEC region.
