Photo by: Gabby Zgunda/MSU Athletics
PREVIEW: Volleyball Visits Baton Rouge for Midweek Series
October 20, 2020 | Volleyball
STARKVILLE – After a weekend in which Mississippi State volleyball fell in two close matches against Arkansas, its chance for redemption is right around the corner.
The Bulldogs (0-2, 0-2 SEC) are set for their first road series of the 2020 fall season as they take on the LSU Tigers (0-2, 0-2 SEC) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Wednesday and Thursday (Oct. 21-22). Both contests are scheduled for a 6 p.m. CT first serve, and the series opener will be nationally televised on ESPNU. The second match will be broadcast via digital only on SEC Network+ and the WatchESPN app.
"I am really excited for our first road swing," MSU volleyball coach Julie Darty Dennis said. "We had a quick turnaround, but I think we are in a good place mentally and emotionally. We're certainly excited about another opportunity to compete and play."
Mississippi State tallied 29 total team blocks in the two matches against Arkansas, helped on by strong performances at the net by Deja Robinson, Jessica Kemp, Francesca McBride and Gabby Waden. Freshman libero Lilly Gunter and redshirt junior outside hitter Logan Brown had 31 and 28 digs, respectively, for the gritty Bulldog defense.
"We had an incredible weekend defensively, and we are continuing to get better offensively as well," Darty Dennis said. "I hope we can just continue to focus on the little things and hit our small milestones along the way. This is a really fun group to coach and I know they will be ready to compete and get after it."
Both programs are looking for their first win of the season. In their previous matchup, the two clubs battled to five sets at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on November 3, 2019, as the Tigers managed a 17-15 final-set win to emerge victorious in the match. Deja Robinson and Callie Minshew led the Bulldogs with 14 kills each.
Junior Taylor Bannister leads the Tigers after averaging 5.25 kills per set and 3.12 digs per set in LSU's series against Texas A&M. LSU suffered a sweep in its season-opening match at Texas A&M on Saturday, then fought to five sets before dropping the series finale against the Aggies.
In accordance with guidelines provided by the state of Louisiana and the SEC, the Pete Maravich Center will be open to fans at a reduced capacity (1,400 seats available) for this series. Fans should enter through the upper entrances of the arena and must wear a face covering and practice social distancing at all times.
Match 1
Opponent: LSU
Location: Pete Maravich Assembly Center | Baton Rouge, La.
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Broadcast: ESPNU (Eric Frede, Katie George)
Match 2
Opponent: LSU
Location: Pete Maravich Assembly Center | Baton Rouge, La.
Time: Noon CT
Broadcast: SEC Network+ (Lyn Rollins, Yvette Girouard)
Overall: 9-62
at MSU: 4-29
at LSU: 4-26
Neutral: 1-7
Last Meeting: Nov. 25, 2019 | Baton Rouge, La. | LSU Won, 3-2
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the program on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching @HailStateVB.
The Bulldogs (0-2, 0-2 SEC) are set for their first road series of the 2020 fall season as they take on the LSU Tigers (0-2, 0-2 SEC) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Wednesday and Thursday (Oct. 21-22). Both contests are scheduled for a 6 p.m. CT first serve, and the series opener will be nationally televised on ESPNU. The second match will be broadcast via digital only on SEC Network+ and the WatchESPN app.
"I am really excited for our first road swing," MSU volleyball coach Julie Darty Dennis said. "We had a quick turnaround, but I think we are in a good place mentally and emotionally. We're certainly excited about another opportunity to compete and play."
Baton Rouge Bound 🧳#HailState🐶 | #RoadDawgs pic.twitter.com/O652wEHTeA
— Mississippi State Volleyball (@HailStateVB) October 20, 2020
Mississippi State tallied 29 total team blocks in the two matches against Arkansas, helped on by strong performances at the net by Deja Robinson, Jessica Kemp, Francesca McBride and Gabby Waden. Freshman libero Lilly Gunter and redshirt junior outside hitter Logan Brown had 31 and 28 digs, respectively, for the gritty Bulldog defense.
"We had an incredible weekend defensively, and we are continuing to get better offensively as well," Darty Dennis said. "I hope we can just continue to focus on the little things and hit our small milestones along the way. This is a really fun group to coach and I know they will be ready to compete and get after it."
Both programs are looking for their first win of the season. In their previous matchup, the two clubs battled to five sets at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on November 3, 2019, as the Tigers managed a 17-15 final-set win to emerge victorious in the match. Deja Robinson and Callie Minshew led the Bulldogs with 14 kills each.
Junior Taylor Bannister leads the Tigers after averaging 5.25 kills per set and 3.12 digs per set in LSU's series against Texas A&M. LSU suffered a sweep in its season-opening match at Texas A&M on Saturday, then fought to five sets before dropping the series finale against the Aggies.
In accordance with guidelines provided by the state of Louisiana and the SEC, the Pete Maravich Center will be open to fans at a reduced capacity (1,400 seats available) for this series. Fans should enter through the upper entrances of the arena and must wear a face covering and practice social distancing at all times.
Match Information
Match 1
Opponent: LSU
Location: Pete Maravich Assembly Center | Baton Rouge, La.
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Broadcast: ESPNU (Eric Frede, Katie George)
Match 2
Opponent: LSU
Location: Pete Maravich Assembly Center | Baton Rouge, La.
Time: Noon CT
Broadcast: SEC Network+ (Lyn Rollins, Yvette Girouard)
Series History
Overall: 9-62
at MSU: 4-29
at LSU: 4-26
Neutral: 1-7
Last Meeting: Nov. 25, 2019 | Baton Rouge, La. | LSU Won, 3-2
First Serve
- Mississippi State collected 29 total team blocks between two matches in its season-opening series against Arkansas. Deja Robinson, Jessica Kemp, Francesca McBride and Gabby Waden each had at least four blocks in both matches.
- Junior middle blocker Deja Robinson totaled a career-high 12 total blocks on Sunday (Oct. 18) against Arkansas. With five solo blocks in the series, Robinson is now tied for 10th among MSU's career leaders in the category (Tameka Thomas - 1996-97; 53).
- Of MSU's seven starters in the Arkansas series, five made their debuts in maroon and white. Freshman Lilly Gunter started both matches in the libero jersey.
- Redshirt junior Logan Brown earned the first two double-doubles of her career while making her MSU debut over the weekend. In the second match, Brown tallied 19 kills and a career-high 18 digs.
- Mississippi State is looking for its first win against LSU since Nov. 25, 2015, when the Bulldogs swept the Tigers at the Newell-Grissom Building.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the program on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching @HailStateVB.
Players Mentioned
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