Saturday, September 14
Jacksonville, Ala.
7:00 PM
Mississippi State
8-1
3
at
1
Jacksonville State
4-5
1
2
3
4
F
Mississippi St.
25
24
25
25
3
Jacksonville St.
22
26
23
19
1
Dawgs Finish Weekend with Win at Jacksonville State
September 14, 2019 | Volleyball
By Austin Coats, Graduate Assistant/Communications
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Mississippi State volleyball is headed back to Starkville after another winning weekend.
MSU defeated Jacksonville State in four sets Saturday (Sept. 14) night to finish 2-1 at the Gamecock Classic in Pete Mathews Coliseum. The Bulldogs are now 8-1 on the season.
State dropped the first match of the weekend on Friday, a five-set battle against Stetson. The team then bounced back with a sweep of Sam Houston State that night, before defeating Jacksonville State Saturday.
"This was a great weekend for the Dawgs," MSU volleyball head coach Julie Darty said. "I am so proud of the way our team responded after taking our first loss of the year to Stetson on Friday. We had to overcome a lot of adversity and every single player on our team stepped up to the challenge.
"The players on the court were going all out and they were executing. The bench was rowdy and keeping our energy up. It was tough to lose to Stetson, but I think we learned a lot about who we are and how we need to continue to get better every single day. We can't ever be okay with where we are."
Following the match, a pair of Bulldog middle blockers, senior Amarrah Cooks and sophomore Deja Robinson, received Gamecock Classic All-Tournament honors, with Cooks the taking MVP recognition. Cooks collected 28 kills on a .423 hitting percentage with 10 total blocks. Robinson was stellar, converting as many kills on a .511 percentage with 17 blocks, eight of which were solo blocks.
"The middles were incredible all weekend," Darty said. "They were efficient, they were attacking really well, and they did a great job of getting positive block touches."
Jacksonville State gave the Bulldogs a ride, evening the match at 1-1 after two sets and keeping the final two frames close, but MSU kept its composure to seal another victory.
Sophomore Gabby Waden (16 kills), Cooks (11) and freshman Callie Minshew (10) each had double-digit kill marks.
Alleah Stamatis earned her fifth double-double of the season Saturday night, collecting 34 assists and 21 digs. The senior has already bested her 2018 total of four double-doubles and earned two in two matches played this weekend.
"Alleah's leadership was huge," Darty said. "Jacksonville State was really trying to come at her to get us out of system, and she did a great job of digging balls and putting them up high so that we had plenty of options out of system."
Freshman Makenzie Jordan earned her first-career double-double, with 11 assists and 11 digs. She is the third Bulldog freshman to record a double-double and the fifth MSU student-athlete to do so this season.
"Our freshmen continue to carry a big load for us too," Darty said. "Makenzie and Callie [Minshew] have to pass a ton of balls for us, and they continue to impress me with their ball control, composure and consistency.
"Kanani [Price] made some huge digs down the line at critical moments that I really felt like helped us grab the momentum and keep it on our side when we really needed it.
"I think there were some big moments tonight, and everyone stayed calm under pressure. We have talked a lot about staying calm and just executing, so that was a big bright spot for me in that we were able to do so."
First Set (Mississippi State 25, Jacksonville State 22)
Despite playing down for most of the set, Mississippi State rallied when it mattered most to take the opening set. Down 21-20, Paige Shaw came up with a big block to tie it, followed by a go-ahead service ace by freshman Kate Smith. Minshew's third kill sealed the 25-22 set win for the Bulldogs.
Second Set (Jacksonville State 26, Mississippi State 24)
The Gamecocks needed extra points to secure their lone set win. Jacksonville State started the set red-hot, leading MSU by the score of 8-1. The Bulldogs fought back, as three straight kills from Cooks made it 11-7, and consecutive kills from Minshew pulled State closer for a 13-11 deficit. Waden tied the set at 16-16 with her fifth kill.
The Gamecocks pulled back in front, though, and Waden tied it again at 24-24. JSU put two more points together to tie the match.
Mississippi State hit .438 as a team in the second set.
Third Set (Mississippi State 25, Jacksonville State 23)
The third set was rallies galore in the closing points. A 4-0 run gave Mississippi State a 19-18 lead, capped by a long rally that ended in another block by Waden and Robinson. Another drawn out point put MSU in front, 20-19. MSU then had to rally on set point, but Cooks put down a block to make it 2-1, MSU in the match.
Fourth Set (Mississippi State 25, Jacksonville State 19)
Waden had three of her kills in Mississippi State's first four points of the final set, as MSU got out to an early 4-2 lead. The Bulldogs had to retake the advantage at 13-12, as Waden and Cooks combined for a block. The Bulldogs started to pull away when Stamatis won a joust at the net to make it 17-14.
Waden had six kills in the final set.
Up Next
Mississippi State returns home to host the Hail State Invitational next weekend at the Newell-Grissom Building. MSU will take on Jackson State and North Florida on Thursday (Sept. 19) and UAB on Friday (Sept. 20). The Bulldogs are 3-0 at home this season.
"I am really excited to get back in the gym this week and prep for our final non-conference action at home," Darty said.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the program on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching @HailStateVB.
Gamecock Classic
Friday, September 13
Match One | Stetson 3, Mississippi State 2
Match Two | Jacksonville State 3, Sam Houston State 1
Match Three | Mississippi State 3, Sam Houston State 0
Match Four | Jacksonville State 3, Stetson 1
Saturday, September 14
Match Five | Sam Houston State 3, Stetson 1
Match Six | Mississippi State 3, Jacksonville State 1
Gamecock Classic All-Tournament Team
MVP: Amarrah Cooks - Mississippi State
Deja Robinson - Mississippi State
Lexie Libs - Jacksonville State
Kaylee Frear - Jacksonville State
Addison Miller - Sam Houston State
Eva Deisa - Stetson
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Mississippi State volleyball is headed back to Starkville after another winning weekend.
MSU defeated Jacksonville State in four sets Saturday (Sept. 14) night to finish 2-1 at the Gamecock Classic in Pete Mathews Coliseum. The Bulldogs are now 8-1 on the season.
State dropped the first match of the weekend on Friday, a five-set battle against Stetson. The team then bounced back with a sweep of Sam Houston State that night, before defeating Jacksonville State Saturday.
"This was a great weekend for the Dawgs," MSU volleyball head coach Julie Darty said. "I am so proud of the way our team responded after taking our first loss of the year to Stetson on Friday. We had to overcome a lot of adversity and every single player on our team stepped up to the challenge.
"The players on the court were going all out and they were executing. The bench was rowdy and keeping our energy up. It was tough to lose to Stetson, but I think we learned a lot about who we are and how we need to continue to get better every single day. We can't ever be okay with where we are."
Following the match, a pair of Bulldog middle blockers, senior Amarrah Cooks and sophomore Deja Robinson, received Gamecock Classic All-Tournament honors, with Cooks the taking MVP recognition. Cooks collected 28 kills on a .423 hitting percentage with 10 total blocks. Robinson was stellar, converting as many kills on a .511 percentage with 17 blocks, eight of which were solo blocks.
"The middles were incredible all weekend," Darty said. "They were efficient, they were attacking really well, and they did a great job of getting positive block touches."
Jacksonville State gave the Bulldogs a ride, evening the match at 1-1 after two sets and keeping the final two frames close, but MSU kept its composure to seal another victory.
Sophomore Gabby Waden (16 kills), Cooks (11) and freshman Callie Minshew (10) each had double-digit kill marks.
Alleah Stamatis earned her fifth double-double of the season Saturday night, collecting 34 assists and 21 digs. The senior has already bested her 2018 total of four double-doubles and earned two in two matches played this weekend.
"Alleah's leadership was huge," Darty said. "Jacksonville State was really trying to come at her to get us out of system, and she did a great job of digging balls and putting them up high so that we had plenty of options out of system."
Freshman Makenzie Jordan earned her first-career double-double, with 11 assists and 11 digs. She is the third Bulldog freshman to record a double-double and the fifth MSU student-athlete to do so this season.
"Our freshmen continue to carry a big load for us too," Darty said. "Makenzie and Callie [Minshew] have to pass a ton of balls for us, and they continue to impress me with their ball control, composure and consistency.
"Kanani [Price] made some huge digs down the line at critical moments that I really felt like helped us grab the momentum and keep it on our side when we really needed it.
"I think there were some big moments tonight, and everyone stayed calm under pressure. We have talked a lot about staying calm and just executing, so that was a big bright spot for me in that we were able to do so."
First Set (Mississippi State 25, Jacksonville State 22)
Despite playing down for most of the set, Mississippi State rallied when it mattered most to take the opening set. Down 21-20, Paige Shaw came up with a big block to tie it, followed by a go-ahead service ace by freshman Kate Smith. Minshew's third kill sealed the 25-22 set win for the Bulldogs.
Second Set (Jacksonville State 26, Mississippi State 24)
The Gamecocks needed extra points to secure their lone set win. Jacksonville State started the set red-hot, leading MSU by the score of 8-1. The Bulldogs fought back, as three straight kills from Cooks made it 11-7, and consecutive kills from Minshew pulled State closer for a 13-11 deficit. Waden tied the set at 16-16 with her fifth kill.
The Gamecocks pulled back in front, though, and Waden tied it again at 24-24. JSU put two more points together to tie the match.
Mississippi State hit .438 as a team in the second set.
Third Set (Mississippi State 25, Jacksonville State 23)
The third set was rallies galore in the closing points. A 4-0 run gave Mississippi State a 19-18 lead, capped by a long rally that ended in another block by Waden and Robinson. Another drawn out point put MSU in front, 20-19. MSU then had to rally on set point, but Cooks put down a block to make it 2-1, MSU in the match.
Fourth Set (Mississippi State 25, Jacksonville State 19)
Waden had three of her kills in Mississippi State's first four points of the final set, as MSU got out to an early 4-2 lead. The Bulldogs had to retake the advantage at 13-12, as Waden and Cooks combined for a block. The Bulldogs started to pull away when Stamatis won a joust at the net to make it 17-14.
Waden had six kills in the final set.
Up Next
Mississippi State returns home to host the Hail State Invitational next weekend at the Newell-Grissom Building. MSU will take on Jackson State and North Florida on Thursday (Sept. 19) and UAB on Friday (Sept. 20). The Bulldogs are 3-0 at home this season.
"I am really excited to get back in the gym this week and prep for our final non-conference action at home," Darty said.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the program on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching @HailStateVB.
Gamecock Classic
Friday, September 13
Match One | Stetson 3, Mississippi State 2
Match Two | Jacksonville State 3, Sam Houston State 1
Match Three | Mississippi State 3, Sam Houston State 0
Match Four | Jacksonville State 3, Stetson 1
Saturday, September 14
Match Five | Sam Houston State 3, Stetson 1
Match Six | Mississippi State 3, Jacksonville State 1
Gamecock Classic All-Tournament Team
MVP: Amarrah Cooks - Mississippi State
Deja Robinson - Mississippi State
Lexie Libs - Jacksonville State
Kaylee Frear - Jacksonville State
Addison Miller - Sam Houston State
Eva Deisa - Stetson
Team Stats
MSU
JSU
Kills
50
58
Errors
14
32
Attempts
132
163
Hitting %
.273
.160
Points
66
71
Assists
47
52
Aces
3
9
Blocks
13
4
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballMB
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