Volleyball Hosts Texas A&M To Wrap SEC 1st Half

by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's volleyball program wraps up the first half of its 18-match SEC slate as the Bulldogs play host to Texas A&M over the weekend at the Newell-Grissom Building.

The Bulldogs (14-5, 5-2 SEC) have an opportunity to continue to collect RPI top 50 wins after State defeated a pair of RPI top 50 victories against South Carolina and at Ole Miss last week.

The Maroon and White head into the weekend's action tied for fourth place with Arkansas in the SEC standings with the Aggies (11-7, 4-4 SEC) right behind both programs. Last season, Mississippi State swept two matches over then No. 7 Texas A&M in November.

"I can't believe that we're already at the halfway point of the SEC season," head coach Julie Darty Dennis said. "To this point, I think we've done a great job taking care of the opponents we've played and putting up some quality wins. We're excited to be at home with our fans there to help us pull through. This is a very good Texas A&M team. These are two very big matches, not just in terms of RPI, but also from an SEC standings standpoint."

"Historically, this is an opponent that our team remembers and has in the front of their minds, because of how important those wins in College Station were for our program last year," Dennis continued. "We've got a lot of work to do to get ready for a very good A&M program. I don't think we have to talk about energy or excitement, that's already there. However, we do need to discuss staying composed, believing in each other and trusting the process. These are going to be long hard-fought battles against a tough team, but we have the tools to do it."

Saturday's first serve is set for 3 p.m. CT followed by Sunday's match on-tap for a 1 p.m. CT first serve. Both matches will be streamed online courtesy of www.ESPN.com/watch and the ESPN app. Sunday's matinee will be televised nationally by SEC Network. Admission is free for all home volleyball matches with gates opening one hour prior to first serve.

In accordance with Mississippi State University policies, face coverings are required to be worn at all times during all indoor athletic events unless fans are actively eating or drinking. Mississippi State Athletics has designed a socially distanced seating plan to welcome fans to the Newell-Grissom Building in the healthiest manner possible for the 2021 season.

The Bulldogs continue to rank among the SEC's top six in kills per set (13.83 – 5th), assists per set (12.55 – 5th), and hitting percentage (.243 – 6th).

Earlier this week, Gabby Waden became the second State player to capture the SEC's Player and SEC's Offensive Player of the Week awards. She has improved her kills per set average to 3.97 on a .353 hitting percentage during conference play. Both marks are ranked inside the SEC's top 10.

Waden has hammered home 10-plus kills in all seven of her SEC outings headed by at least 15 kills six times. She powered home 24 of her career-best 31 kills over the final three sets of a 3-2 reverse sweep at Ole Miss (10/17).

For her career, Waden has ripped 944 kills and provided double-digit kills in 47 matches. She is attempting to become the 11th player in program history to reach 1,000 career kills.

Shania Cromartie and Lauren Myrick give the Maroon and White a balanced three-headed attack on the outside. The trio has amassed 32 matches of 10-plus kills during the 2021 season.

Cromartie has worked her way to 2.65 kills and 1.95 digs per set. Her top two kills performances have come against SEC opponents en route to a career-best 25 kills at No. 17 Florida (09/24), followed by 17 kills and nine digs during the South Carolina match (10/13).

Myrick continues to score her fair share of points as a six-rotation outside hitter. She has picked up double-doubles in five of her last seven matches. Her nine double-doubles overall and her four double dips in SEC action are tied for third place among the league leaders.

Myrick has popped 10-plus kills in 14 of her 17 appearances. The 14 matches of 10 or more kills is tied for fifth in the SEC. She nearly tabulated her 10th double-double in her return to the lineup with 13 kills and nine digs at Ole Miss (10/17).

Callie Minshew has come on with 2.33 kills and 1.22 digs per set over last two matches. She delivered a season's best 12 kills and seven digs against South Carolina (10/13).

"Callie did a great job of chipping in 12 kills, handling the ball well and playing great defense," Dennis said. "It was great to get Lauren back on the court at Ole Miss and going with some tempo to the outside. I also though Callie did a great job coming in for Shania, and that's what it's all about. It's about stepping up when you get called upon in those opportunities. If our outsides continue to pass the ball the way they do, that'll cause us to go. That first contact is so important. It's not so much about who's passing the ball as much as it's just that we're passing the ball well."

State's setting duo of Gabby Coulter and Margaret Dean have paired up to distribute 10.82 assists per set on the season, which would rank fifth among SEC setters if running a 5-1 offensive system. The pair has combined for 3,407 career assists and 10 double-doubles on the season.

Dean posted a career-best 30 assists versus South Carolina (10/13) and followed that up with another career-high effort of 36 helpers at Ole Miss (10/17). Her and Coulter combined for 60 assists, which would hold the top spot among SEC setters for a match this season if running a 5-1.

Lilly Gunter continues to spearhead the back line as State's libero where has piled up 10 or more digs in 16 of 18 matches. The 16 efforts of 10-plus digs are third, while her six outings of 20-plus digs are tied for third among SEC liberos. She has sprawled out for 20 or more digs in three of her last four matches.

Gunter has tucked away her five highest career dig performances this season. Her 4.61 digs per set in SEC matches are fourth in the SEC rankings, whereas her 33 digs at Florida (09/24) are the second-most by a SEC player this season.

MSU's middles of Sania Petties and Deja Robinson have secured 2.80 kills and 1.71 blocks per set. Robinson's .326 hitting clip is 10th on the SEC ledger with Petties' .320 hitting ratio right behind her. Robinson has racked up 339 career blocks and 63 solo blocks, which is good enough for fifth place in program history.

Jessica Kemp and Rebecca Walk have combined to tuck away 28 kills and seven blocks during State's last four matches. Francesca McBride has been mixed into the rotation and came away with season's bests of six kills and three digs against South Carolina (10/13).

"The team is getting to a place where they understand that they don't have to be perfect every single day," Dennis said. "There's depth on our roster to where we can get the win even when not everyone is playing their best volleyball. However, if everyone is putting their best effort into playing our best, that's what I want them to feel good about. There's 18 on our team. Each one has a unique story and bring a unique piece to our puzzle. I think everyone has a good feel and a grasp on their role. This team has no ego in my opinion, and no one thinks this team is about themselves. It's all about the program and the name on the front of the jersey. I believe everyone is excited about the brand of volleyball we're playing right now."

After playing five of seven matches at home to start October, Mississippi State hits the road for three of its next four matches. The Bulldogs travel to Georgia on Wednesday, October 27. State's next home match is against Alabama the following Wednesday, November 3. Admission is free for all home volleyball matches with gates opening one hour prior to first serve.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the volleyball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets by searching 'HailStateVB' on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Volleyball Hosts Texas A&M To Wrap SEC 1st Half

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Players Mentioned

Gabby Coulter

Shania Cromartie

Margaret Dean

Lilly Gunter

Jessica Kemp

Francesca McBride

Callie Minshew

Lauren Myrick

Sania Petties

Deja Robinson

Gabby Waden

Rebecca Walk

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