MSU Finishes Opening Weekend 2-1 After Loss to Rice

Saturday, August 26

Dallas, Texas

12:00 PM

Mississippi State

2-1

Rice

2-1

MISSISSIPPI STATE

RICE

Passerelli earns a dig against SMU

Photo by: special to HailState.com

MSU Finishes Opening Weekend 2-1 After Loss to Rice

August 26, 2017 | Volleyball

Box Score MSU-Rice Box Score

DALLAS – Wrapping up its third game in two days, Mississippi State dropped a hard-fought, 3-1 decision to Rice in four sets (25-20, 22-25, 21-25, 20-25) on Saturday to close out the SMU Doubletree Invitational.

Mississippi State finished 2-1 on the weekend after defeating SMU (20-25, 25-23, 25-21, 21-25, 25-25) and Texas A&M Corpus Christi (23-25, 12-25, 28-26, 25-19, 13-15)

"I am happy with our effort this weekend. 2-1 against that competition is a good start," third-year Coach McFatrich said. "We didn't play our best against Rice, but they are a big reason why. My biggest takeaway from this weekend is that we have potential. That's a big upside."

Despite having a hard time getting started defensively, MSU went on to gain a five-point advantage during the middle of the set. That advantage, in addition to the Bulldogs 12 kills, helped to secure the set, 25-20.

During set two, the Dawgs and the Owls took turns holding onto the lead. Gabby Zgunda's five digs contributed to State's fight, but a number of errors were the deciding point in the set as Rice won, 25-22.

The two teams battled back and forth in the third until the Owls were able to capitalize on errors. At one point, Rice was six points ahead. However, in the middle of the set and one point behind, the Bulldogs had four kills in a row to put MSU ahead by two. The Owls ended up taking command en route to a 25-21 win.

Set four set played a lot like the third as Rice rallied off of five points to win, 25-20.

MSU is back in action Thursday in its home opener against Grambling State at 6 p.m. CT. The game kicks off the annual Bulldog Invitational at home in Newell-Grissom.

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