Volleyball Opens SEC Play At Home Versus Georgia

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's volleyball team begins its conference slate with Georgia (9-2) inside the Newell-Grissom Building. First serve is set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT and will be televised nationally by the SEC Network.

"Last season we went five sets with Georgia at their place," head coach Julie Darty Dennis said. "I know that it's always going to be a dog fight with them. They are a well-coached team, and they are super disciplined in the system that they play. We need to come in and set the tone with everything we do starting with the service line and serve receive. A clean slate starting SEC is always fun and this is a great opportunity for us to really go back to who we are and really set the tone."

State (7-3) completed a successful non-conference schedule that included six consecutive wins to begin the 2022 season. The Bulldogs now focus on a challenging SEC slate over the next 10 weeks.

Mississippi State ranks among the SEC's top 5 in digs per set (15.92 – 2nd), kills per set (14.03 – 4th) and assists per set (13.19 – 4th). The Bulldogs have connected for a .258 hitting percentage, which is ranked fifth in the SEC standings.

Gabby Coulter has dished out 10.11 assists per set on the season, which ranks fourth among SEC setters. She has coupled her 374 assists with 102 digs throughout the 10 matches she has played. Coulter has amassed five double-doubles this year, her latest coming against Bowling Green (09/15) when she produced 39 assists and 16 digs.

Gabby Waden has belted a team-leading 3.81 kills per set on a .316 hitting percentage. Waden has also accumulated 4.19 points per set for the Bulldogs. She has tallied 10-plus kills during nine of her last 10 outings, headed by a 25-kill effort against Oklahoma (09/03).

Lauren Myrick has powered home 3.27 kills to go along with 2.16 digs and 0.27 aces per set. She has accumulated three double-doubles in three-straight matches, recording 14 kills and 11 digs against Houston (09/09), 11 kills and 15 digs against South Alabama (09/10) and 12 kills and 12 digs against Bowling Green (09/15).

Deja Robinson has tucked away 1.61 kills and a team-leading 1.06 blocks per set. She has compiled a .417 attacking percentage, which is second in the SEC rankings.

Shania Cromartie has registered 2.48 kills and 1.85 digs per set. She collected a season-high 20 kills against Oklahoma (09/03) and a season-best 15 digs at Notre Dame (08/27). Sania Petties has chipped in 1.93 kills and 0.74 blocks per set, while Rebecca Walk has garnered 1.87 kills and 0.70 blocks per set.

Lilly Gunter has sprawled out in 10-plus digs in nine of her 10 starts wearing the libero jersey this season. Gunter's 4.14 digs per set is third among SEC liberos.

For more information on the Bulldog volleyball program, visit HailState.com or search for "HailStateVB" on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Volleyball Opens SEC Play At Home Versus Georgia

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Players Mentioned

Gabby Coulter

Shania Cromartie

Lilly Gunter

Lauren Myrick

Sania Petties

Deja Robinson

Gabby Waden

Rebecca Walk

Mississippi State University Athletics