Bulldogs, Tigers to Battle On Friday Afternoon In Starkville

Friday, November 10

Starkville

3:00 PM

Mississippi State

LSU

Gray Earns A Kill Against No. 4 Florida On Oct. 29.

Bulldogs, Tigers to Battle On Friday Afternoon In Starkville

November 09, 2017 | Volleyball

MATCH NOTES Watch On The SEC Network +

STARKVILLE - With its only game of the weekend, Mississippi State (9-19, 0-13 SEC) welcomes LSU (17-7, 8-5 SEC) to Newell-Grissom for an early afternoon matchup.

First serve is set for 3 p.m. CT on the SEC Network + with Blake DuDonis calling the match. Fans can also access the game via the WatchESPN app.

"I feel we started realizing some potential against Ole Miss," third-year Coach David McFatrich said. "We were within a serve and a pass of going five with them. We had a good practice yesterday. I like to work on middle blockers are putting in lately. We got Khristian Carr back after she was sick, so we think she's going to be ready to go against LSU on Friday."

Earlier in the season, the Tigers won the first meeting in Baton Rouge, 3-0.

This Weeks Schedule …

Friday, November, 10
LSU vs. Mississippi State - 3 p.m. CT
Live Stats - http://hailst.at/2jbOkxD
SEC Network + - http://hailst.at/2j83806

Setting The Scene…
After falling to Ole Miss (18-25, 27-25, 15-25, 23-25), Mississippi State welcomes LSU for a rematch in Starkville.

Sunday, November 5
After a hard-fought battle in Oxford, Ole Miss defeated MSU (18-25, 27-25, 15-25, 23-25).

MSU Welcomes LSU to Newell-Grissom for a rematch…
Friday's matchup will be the 31st meeting between these two teams in Starkville, and the 68th in series history. LSU holds a 58-9 advantage in the series. In Starkville, LSU leads 26-4.

Scouting The LSU Tigers
LSU is currently 8-5 in SEC play, with a notable 17-7 overall record. Taylor Bannister and Anna Zwiebel lead the ways for LSU on the overall stat sheets.

So far this season, Bannister has accumulated 282 kills, 59 total blocks, and 314.0 points. Zwiebel has 859 assists, averages 9.87 assists per set, 17 service aces, and 184 digs so far this season.

A MSU Bulldog Win Would

Snap LSU's two game win streak in the series
Give the Bulldogs a key SEC victory

Who's Leading The Bulldogs
Kills: Jelena Vujcin, 332
Kills Per Set: Jelena Vujcin, 3.42
Assists: Morgan Kath, 762
Service Aces: Jelena Vujcin, 26
Digs: Payton Harris, 280
Total Blocks: Laura Rose Gray, 74.0
Block Solos: Laura Rose Gray, 17.0
Points: Jelena Vujcin, 390.5

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 1,797. 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 sixth place in the SEC record book with 1,797 digs, 4 shy from the fifth spot held by Tennessee's Ellen Mullins (2010-13) with 1,801.

Lehto Chasing The Freshman Assists Record Book ...
Freshman Carina Lehto has been credited with 168 assists this season, the ninth most for a MSU freshman. She is 26 away from tying the eighth spot (Grace Hoyt).

Gray Sets Her Eyes On Total Blocks Record Book ...
Freshman Laura Rose Gray has been credited with 74 total blocks this season. She holds the fifth spot for most total blocks as a freshman and is 18 away from fourth place (Nicole Palazzo).

Gray Is Chasing The Block Solos Record Book ...
Freshman Laura Rose Gray has earned 17 block solos this season. She is in seventh place for most block solos as a freshman. She is one away from a three-way tie for fifth place (Shauna Owens and Sharyn Smith).

Gray Achieves a Spot on The Block Assists Record Book …
Freshman Laura Rose Gray has earned 57 block assists this season. She is in 10th place for most block assists as a freshman and one away from ninth place (Carmen Easley).

Marketing Events for LSU …

Volleyball Bingo! Get your card at the marketing table to follow along with the game. The first five winners will receive a prize at the marketing table.

Admission to Newell-Grissom
During the 2017 season, admission is free for all home Mississippi State volleyball matches at Newell-Grissom.

MSU Prepares to Welcome Missouri For A Friday Evening Match ...
After the completion of Friday's match against LSU, the Bulldogs welcome Missouri to Newell Grissom next Friday (Nov. 17) for another rematch. First serve is set for 7 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."