Bulldogs Open Final Home Series with Sweep of Georgia

Wednesday, March 31

Starkville

1:00 PM

Mississippi State

5-14,5-14SEC

Georgia

7-14,7-14SEC

Georgia

Mississippi St.

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Bulldogs Open Final Home Series with Sweep of Georgia

March 31, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Austin Coats, Graduate Assistant/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State volleyball made a statement Wednesday (March 31) in the Newell-Grissom Building, sweeping Georgia in the first contest of its final series of the season.

Mississippi State volleyball (5-14, 5-14 SEC) overcame three Georgia (7-14, 7-14 SEC) set points to capture the opening frame in extra points, 28-26, then carried the momentum through the next two segments to pull off the straight set victory.

"What an impressive outing for the Dawgs," MSU head volleyball coach Julie Darty Dennis said. "It was an all-out battle in that first set, and I'm super proud of the girls for being so composed and confident and for executing our game plan."

MSU's middle blocker duo of Deja Robinson and Jessica Kemp combined for 15 kills with just one error, attacking at a .452 mark. Robinson also tallied nine blocks to go along with her eight kills.

"I'm so proud of the middles for coming alive," Darty Dennis said. "I think offensively and defensively, they were stepping up and getting the job done. It was nice to see Deja get so many positive block touches, and offensively she was lights out."

State had four players add seven or more kills over the three sets, led by Callie Minshew's 10. As a team, MSU hit .236 while its defense held Georgia's offense to a .100 clip.

"I think everybody knows Gabby Waden is going to get kills, and everyone's game is to slow her down," Darty Dennis said. "So, our other players did a really nice job to step up and carry more of a load offensively tonight."

For Georgia, Rachel Ritchie tied the match high with 10 kills, while Claire Rothenberger led all players with 15 digs.

Match Notes

Deja Robinson set her season-high for blocks in a three-set match, tallying nine Wednesday and tying the second-highest mark by an SEC student-athlete this season.
State's defense held Georgia to a .100 hitting average Wednesday, the second-lowest average by an MSU opponent this season and the lowest since State held Ole Miss to an .057 clip in another three-set victory on February 12.
MSU's 10 total team blocks set a season-high for a three-set match.

First Set (Mississippi State 28, Georgia 26)

Down 26-25, Minshew landed three straight kills to win the opening frame. State battled back from three Georgia set points to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Minshew opened with four kills, matched by Kemp and Robinson. Freshman libero Lilly Gunter had five digs in the opening frame.

Second Set (Mississippi State 25, Georgia 17)

The home team used its momentum to burst out to a 10-2 lead to start the second set. Georgia pulled within five, 15-10, to force an MSU timeout, but Minshew ended the away team's run with a kill out of the break. After an error from the service line, State added five straight points to stretch its lead to 21-11 and held off the visitors for a convincing set two win. MSU hit .320 and held Georgia to a -.065 mark in set two.

Third Set (Mississippi State 25, Georgia 21)

State took a 2-1 lead and held on to it until back-to-back kills by Georgia attackers tied the set at 20-20. The home team kept its composure, though, and scored five of the next six points to clinch the sweep.

Up Next
Mississippi State looks to end its 2020-21 season with a series sweep of Georgia as the two teams meet for the last time Thursday (April 1) at 1 p.m. CT in the Newell-Grissom Building.

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