Bulldogs To Play Final Match Of The Season Friday

Friday, November 24

Columbia, S.C.

6:00 PM

Mississippi State

South Carolina

Lochner Earns A Kill Against Texas A&M On Nov. 22.

Bulldogs To Play Final Match Of The Season Friday

November 23, 2017 | Volleyball

MATCH NOTES Watch On The SEC Network +

COLUMBIA, S.C. - On its final match of the season, Mississippi State (9-23, 0-17 SEC) travels to South Carolina (12-17, 5-12 SEC) looking to end the year on a positive note.

First serve is set for 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network +. RJ Abella and Kevin Fitzgerald will be calling the match. Fans can also access the game via the WatchESPN app.

"We're looking forward to playing down there," third-year coach David McFatrich said. "We've got to win the serve pass battle. When we do those things, we're tough to stop. If we can do that then we're in good shape."

Earlier in the season, South Carolina claimed a five-set thriller in Starkville.

This Weeks Schedule …

Wednesday, November, 22
Texas A&M won in four (25-21, 13-25, 14-25, 11-25)

Friday, November 24
Mississippi State at South Carolina - 6 p.m. CT
Live Stats - http://hailst.at/2hQqQOb
SEC Network + - http://hailst.at/2hTEAYl

Setting The Scene…
After falling to Texas A&M in last Wednesday's home match (25-21, 13-25, 14-25, 11-25), Mississippi State travels to South Carolina to face the Gamecocks for a rematch in Columbia.

Wednesday, November 22
Texas A&M defeated MSU (25-21, 13-25, 14-25, 11-25).

MSU Travels to South Carolina to Battle Gamecocks
Friday's matchup will be the 21st meeting between these two teams in Columbia, and the 45th in series history. South Carolina holds a 33-12 advantage in the series. In Columbia, the Gamecocks lead 18-3.

Scouting The South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina is currently 5-12 in SEC play, with a 11-15 overall record. Mikayla Shields and Courtney Koehler standout for the Gamecocks on the overall stat sheets.

So far this season, Shields has accumulated 327 kills, 234 digs, and 373.0 points. Koehler has 869 assists, averaging 9.45 per set, and 165 digs so far this season.

A MSU Bulldog Win Would

Break South Carolina's three-game win streak in the series
End the 2017 season with a Bulldog victory

Who's Leading The Bulldogs
Kills: Jelena Vujcin, 386
Kills Per Set: Jelena Vujcin, 3.48
Assists: Morgan Kath, 881
Service Aces: Jelena Vujcin, 29
Digs: Payton Harris, 330
Total Blocks: Laura Rose Gray, 79.0
Block Solos: Laura Rose Gray, 18.0
Points: Jelena Vujcin, 448.0

Harris Achieves The MSU's Digs Record…
Senior Payton Harris eclipsed the 1,000 digs mark for her career last season. On Oct. 1, 2017, against No. 10 Kentucky, Harris achieved the school record. She now has 1,847. She surpassed Melissa Kariker (1993-1996) who held the first place spot with 1,707 digs. She missed the game at Missouri due to an injury.

Harris Lands On The SEC All-Time Career Records List …
Senior Payton Harris is in fifth place in the SEC record book with 1,847 digs, 77 away from the fourth spot held by Stephanie Klefot (2009-12) with 1,924.

Lehto Chasing The Freshman Assists Record Book ...
Freshman Carina Lehto has been credited with 172 assists this season, the ninth most for a MSU freshman. She is 22 away from tying the eighth spot (Grace Hoyt).

Benner and Gray Have Their Eyes On Total Blocks Record Book ...
Freshman Laura Rose Gray has been credited with 79 total blocks this season. She holds the fifth spot for most total blocks as a freshman and is 13 away from fourth place (Nicole Palazzo).

Freshman Liv Benner has earned 73 total blocks this season. She holds the sixth place spot, and is five away from tying fifth place (Laura Rose Gray).

Gray And Benner Are Chasing The Block Solos Record Book ...
Freshman Laura Rose Gray has earned 18 block solos this season. She is in a three-way tie for fifth place for most block solos as a freshman. She is three away from tying the fourth place spot (Jennifer Shupe).

Freshman Liv Benner has earned 15 block solos this season. She is in a three-way tie for tenth place. She is one away from tying the eighth place spot (Lainey Wyman).

Gray and Benner Achieve a Spot on The Block Assists Record Book …
Freshman Laura Rose Gray has earned 61 block assists this season. She joins Carmen Easley in eighth place with a tie for most block assists as a freshman.

Freshman Liv Benner has earned 58 block assists this season. She is now in 10th place for most block assists as a freshman.

Maddox Is Chasing the Attack Attempts Record Book …
Freshman Sara Maddox has accumulated 818 attack attempts this season. She holds the sixth place spot for most attack attempts as a freshman. She is only 115 attack attempts away from the fifth spot (Rachel Cooper).

Maddox Achieves A Spot On The Kills Record Book …
Freshman Sara Maddox has accumulated 258 kills this season. She now holds the eighth place spot for most kills as a freshman. She is 13 kills away from tying the seventh spot (Melissa Kariker).

Zgunda Achieves a Spot on The Digs Record Book
Freshman Gabby Zgunda has achieved 266 total digs this season. She holds the 10th spot for most digs as a freshman. She is only 4 digs away from tying the ninth spot (Rachel Cooper).

Swing, Sara, Swing!
Sara Maddox completed her first collegiate game at SMU with a career-high 25 kills. Currently, she has 258 kills and 277.0 points.

Jelena Vujcin Shines On The Stat Charts
Jelena Vujcin leads the team in three categories: kills (386), kills per set (3.48) and points (448.0).
Harris can "dig it"
Senior Payton Harris currently leads the team with 330 digs so far this season. She had a season high of 23 against South Carolina on Sept. 22

Admission to Carolina Volleyball Center ...
During the 2017 season, admission for the Carolina Volleyball Center is $5 for adults and $3 or individuals 17 and under.

MSU Prepares For Its Final Match of SEC Play at South Carolina...
Following Wednesday's match against Texas A&M, the Bulldogs will travel to South Carolina for a rematch against the Gamecocks on Friday (Nov. 24) in Columbia. First serve is set for 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network +.

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."