Bulldogs Fall in First Match Against Alabama

Friday, February 26

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

6:00 PM

Mississippi State

4-9,4-9SEC

Alabama

5-10,5-10SEC

Mississippi St.

Alabama

Bulldogs Fall in First Match Against Alabama

February 26, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Austin Coats, Graduate Assistant/Communications

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – In a match that had three sets decided by two points, the Mississippi State volleyball team lost a tough four-set battle to Alabama Friday (Feb. 26) night in Foster Auditorium.

Mississippi State (4-9, 4-9 SEC) won the opening set, 25-23, only to drop the next three sets to the Crimson Tide (5-10, 5-10 SEC) in the series opener. Each of the final two sets finished 25-23.

"It was a tough loss for us tonight," MSU volleyball coach Julie Darty Dennis said. "I am proud that we played tough and never gave up. We will regroup and get back at it tomorrow."

Keeping consistent, Gabby Waden tallied a team-best 18 kills on a .385 hitting percentage. Following behind her was fellow junior Deja Robinson, whose season-high 11 kills (.364) combined with four blocks.

"It was nice to see Deja [Robinson] come on so strong offensively tonight because we definitely need more of that to help balance out our offense," Darty Dennis said. "[Gabby] Waden had another stellar night, and we just need a couple more attackers to step up offensively and score more points for us."

With 21 assists in the match, junior Gabby Coulter surpassed the 1,500 career assists mark. After recording 1,400 assists in two seasons at Marshall, Coulter owns 109 assists over five matches this spring as a Bulldog.

Alabama was helped on by double-double performances by Abby Marjama (20 kills, 10 digs) and Kendyl Reaugh (11 kills, 13 digs). Defensively, Madelyn St. Germain totaled 28 digs.

Match Notes

Following another fine performance, junior right side hitter Gabby Waden continued her great season and especially exceptional spring. In five matches in 2021, Waden has averaged 4.16 kills per set and a .345 hitting percentage.
The Bulldogs had six student-athletes with double-digit digs for the first time since at least 2005, led by Lauren Myrick's 13. State's 74 digs as a group were the fifth highest mark by an SEC team in a four-set match this season.
Freshman Lilly Gunter tallied four service aces, doubling her previous season-high.
Junior middle blocker Deja Robinson recorded four total blocks Friday night, with one solo block. That put her in a three-way tie for seventh among MSU's career leaders in the category.
With five blocks on Friday, Jessica Kemp extended her streak of matches with three or more blocks to six contests.

First Set (Mississippi State 25, Alabama 23)

Mississippi State survived six straight points by Alabama that gave the Tide an 18-15 lead by coming back with three straight on kills by Waden, Margaret Dean and Robinson. Marjama gave Alabama back the lead, 21-20, but another 3-0 State run put MSU in the driver's seat at 23-21. The two teams traded the final four points, allowing MSU to take the opening frame.

Second Set (Alabama 25, Mississippi State 18)

State started with a 4-2 advantage, but the Tide scored seven of the next eight points. The Bulldogs couldn't recover, and Alabama leveled the match.

Third Set (Alabama 25, Mississippi State 23)

MSU opened with a 5-1 lead, before Alabama rallied for its first lead of the set when Reaugh put down a kill for an 11-10 Alabama advantage. Reaugh later had three straight kills during a run of five straight Alabama scores to give the Tide an 18-14 edge. Robinson tallied back-to-back kills then combined with Francesca McBride for a 3-0 run that re-tied the set at 21-21. Alabama scored four of the next six points, however, and earned a 2-1 match lead.

Fourth Set (Alabama 25, Mississippi State 23)

Six straight scores put the Maroon and White up 14-11 early in the fourth frame. The Bulldogs led by as much as four at 16-12, but Alabama slowly chipped away and an ace by Marjama finally tied the set at 20-20. State took a late 23-21 advantage, but a 4-0 run by the Tide allowed them to steal the final set they needed to clinch the match.

Up Next
Mississippi and Alabama will return to Foster Auditorium Saturday at 2 p.m. for the series finale. Fans can watch the match on the SEC Network+ digital platform.

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