Volleyball Bested by Alabama in Series Finale

Saturday, February 27

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

2:00 PM

Mississippi State

4-10,4-10SEC

Alabama

6-10,6-10SEC

Mississippi St.

Alabama

Volleyball Bested by Alabama in Series Finale

February 27, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Austin Coats, Graduate Assistant/Communications

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Despite showing late fight, Mississippi State volleyball failed to overcome an early deficit against Alabama on Saturday (Feb. 27) afternoon in Foster Auditorium and dropped the second contest of a two-match series in four sets.

After Alabama (6-10, 6-10 SEC) claimed the first two sets, Mississippi State (4-10, 4-10 SEC) battled to win the third set, 25-19. The Crimson Tide adjusted in a tightly contested final set, however, to seal the match in four frames.

"It was another tough match for the Dawgs," MSU volleyball head coach Julie Darty Dennis said. We played really well in set three, but we just didn't repeat that level for long enough throughout the entire match. Alabama is a very good team offensively, and we didn't get the job done today on defense."

State recorded its second-best hitting percentage of the season with a .258 average, but was outdone by Alabama's .336 effort. Gabby Waden led the Bulldogs with 17 kills (.316), and Deja Robinson (.438) and Lauren Myrick (.320) each added nine of their own.

"We are still trying to find that rhythm and balance offensively, and it will come," Darty Dennis said. "This team is growing up and learning a lot, and I love that we can take something from a tough loss and translate into an opportunity for growth. We know that what we are working towards, and this group is a highly motivated group."

Alabama's strong offensive performance was led again by Abby Marjama, who produced 24 kills on a .444 hitting percentage. Kendyl Reaugh added 12 more to aid the Alabama attack.

Match Notes

Following another fine performance, junior right side hitter Gabby Waden continued her great season and especially exceptional spring. In six matches in 2021, Waden has averaged 4.17 kills per set and a .340 hitting percentage.
In the second match of her career, freshman outside hitter Shania Cromartie recorded her first-career service ace. Cromartie made her collegiate debut in the series finale of the Ole Miss series (Feb. 12).
With three blocks on Saturday, graduate transfer middle blocker Jessica Kemp extended her streak of matches with three or more blocks to seven contests.

First Set (Alabama 25, Mississippi State 16)

A pair of Waden kills early in the set had things even at 2-2, before Alabama used a four-point spurt to gain the edge. State trimmed the lead to two points, 8-6, on back-to-back kills from Waden and Deja Robinson, but the Crimson Tide reeled off eight straight points to take control on the way to the 25-16 opening set victory.

Second Set (Alabama 25, Mississippi State 18)

The two teams were back and forth early in the second set, with a Francesca McBride kill putting MSU ahead, 4-3, in the early going. A 13-2 run gave Alabama a 10-point advantage, 16-6, before MSU would score nine of the next 13 points – including three kills each from Waden and Callie Minshew – to make it 20-15. The home team would score five of the final eight points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Third Set (Mississippi State 25, Alabama 19)

It was Alabama that came out quickly in set three, but Mississippi State was up to the task and responded after the Tide took a 5-1 edge. State chipped away at the lead and a Kemp kill made it 11-9 in favor of UA. That kill sparked a 7-1 run that flipped the script and pushed State out to a 15-12 edge. After some side out volleyball made it 19-17 in favor of MSU, the Bulldogs scored six of the last eight points to win the set. Kemp's fifth kill of the set gave MSU set point and a solo block by Waden won the set.

Fourth Set (Alabama 25, Mississippi State 21)

The fourth set featured eight ties and six lead changes, the final coming at 14-13 in favor of the Crimson Tide. Neither team was able to gain an advantage of more than three points until a service ace by Madelyn St. Germain made it 23-19 in favor of Alabama. MSU would answer with a Lauren Myrick kill and a solo block from Minshew, before back-to-back kills for the Tide ended the match.

Up Next
Mississippi State continues its road stretch with a visit to Knoxville next weekend to take on Tennessee in a two-match series on Friday and Saturday (March 5-6).

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