Friday, August 25
Starkville
7 p.m.
Mississippi State
vs
Eastern Kentucky
Photo by: Jaden Powell/MSU Athletics
Bulldogs Host StarkVegas Classic To Open 2023 Season
August 24, 2023 | Volleyball
STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State volleyball program turns its attention to the 2023 campaign and begins its sixth season under Julie Darty Dennis as the Bulldogs welcome Eastern Kentucky, Louisiana and Northwestern State for the StarkVegas Classic over the weekend at the Newell-Grissom Building.
MSU and Eastern Kentucky will meet Friday at 7 p.m. before facing Northwestern State on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs cap the weekend on Sunday at 1 p.m. with Louisiana. All three Mississippi State matches will be streamed live courtesy of SEC Network+ and available online through the Watch ESPN app.
Admission is free for all volleyball matches with gates opening one hour prior to first serve.
"We are really looking forward to opening our 2023 season at home," Dennis said. "The Griss is a special place, and our fans certainly know how to provide an electric atmosphere. I am excited for our team to kick off the season and I am excited for our fans to see the hard work that we have been putting in."
The Bulldogs roster returns nine student-athletes from 2022, including Lauren Myrick. Myrick led the team with 20 aces while also collecting 272 kills, 261 digs and 306.5 points during the 2022 campaign. Senior, Rebecca Walk, will look to expand her role at the net from last season after earning 54 kills, 24 blocks and 69.5 points.
Looking to expand their roles from last season are Sophie Agee, Yuliana Amador, Avery Fitzgerald, Georgia Anne McCarter, Emily Oerther, Caylee Sharkey and Sanaa Williams.
Four transfers looking to make an impact on the court for the Bulldogs are Alexa Fortin Goede, Zoe Gonzales, Karli Schmidt and Amina Shackelford. Goede came to MSU from Georgia where she posted 530 assists and 229 digs during her time at UGA. Gonzales began her collegiate career at Wake Forest before joining Jacksonville State, where she tallied 386 points, 289 kills and 164 blocks during her time with JSU.
Schmidt joins State from Kansas where she garnered 93 career kills and 101 career points. Shackelford joins the squad after spending three seasons at Butler, claiming 619 kills, 750.5 points and 223 digs.
Mississippi State's freshman class is eager to make an instant impact and features Erin Kline, Mary Neal, Arissa Smith and Ashley Sturzoiu.
"There is a lot of positivity around this team," Dennis said. "It feels like they are humble and hungry to get out there and compete to show who they are and what Mississippi State volleyball is all about."
The match against Eastern Kentucky marks the fifth matchup between the two teams. Last time the Bulldogs saw EKU was Sept. 12, 2015, where State earned a 3-0 win. MSU is 8-0 when facing Northwestern State with the last match taking place Sept. 13, 2014. State has faced Louisiana 20 times since 1980, with the Bulldogs coming out on top 12 times.
Bulldog fans will see two familiar faces on the opposite bench. Kendall Murr who was a defensive specialist for Mississippi State (2018-21), is now an assistant coach for Eastern Kentucky. Jazmyne Johnson is the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator on the Louisiana staff. Johnson was right side and middle blocker at State from 2015-2016.
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10 a.m. – Eastern Kentucky vs. Northwestern State | Live Stats
3 p.m. – Northwestern State vs. Louisiana | Live Stats
7 p.m. – Eastern Kentucky at Mississippi State | Live Stats | SEC Network+
Saturday, Aug. 26
2 p.m. – Eastern Kentucky vs. Louisiana| Live Stats
6 p.m. – Northwestern State at Mississippi State | Live Stats | SEC Network+
Sunday, Aug. 27
1 p.m. – Louisiana at Mississippi State | Live Stats | SEC Network+
For more information on the Bulldog volleyball program, visit HailState.com or search for "HailStateVB" on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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MSU and Eastern Kentucky will meet Friday at 7 p.m. before facing Northwestern State on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs cap the weekend on Sunday at 1 p.m. with Louisiana. All three Mississippi State matches will be streamed live courtesy of SEC Network+ and available online through the Watch ESPN app.
Admission is free for all volleyball matches with gates opening one hour prior to first serve.
"We are really looking forward to opening our 2023 season at home," Dennis said. "The Griss is a special place, and our fans certainly know how to provide an electric atmosphere. I am excited for our team to kick off the season and I am excited for our fans to see the hard work that we have been putting in."
The Bulldogs roster returns nine student-athletes from 2022, including Lauren Myrick. Myrick led the team with 20 aces while also collecting 272 kills, 261 digs and 306.5 points during the 2022 campaign. Senior, Rebecca Walk, will look to expand her role at the net from last season after earning 54 kills, 24 blocks and 69.5 points.
Looking to expand their roles from last season are Sophie Agee, Yuliana Amador, Avery Fitzgerald, Georgia Anne McCarter, Emily Oerther, Caylee Sharkey and Sanaa Williams.
Four transfers looking to make an impact on the court for the Bulldogs are Alexa Fortin Goede, Zoe Gonzales, Karli Schmidt and Amina Shackelford. Goede came to MSU from Georgia where she posted 530 assists and 229 digs during her time at UGA. Gonzales began her collegiate career at Wake Forest before joining Jacksonville State, where she tallied 386 points, 289 kills and 164 blocks during her time with JSU.
Schmidt joins State from Kansas where she garnered 93 career kills and 101 career points. Shackelford joins the squad after spending three seasons at Butler, claiming 619 kills, 750.5 points and 223 digs.
Mississippi State's freshman class is eager to make an instant impact and features Erin Kline, Mary Neal, Arissa Smith and Ashley Sturzoiu.
"There is a lot of positivity around this team," Dennis said. "It feels like they are humble and hungry to get out there and compete to show who they are and what Mississippi State volleyball is all about."
The match against Eastern Kentucky marks the fifth matchup between the two teams. Last time the Bulldogs saw EKU was Sept. 12, 2015, where State earned a 3-0 win. MSU is 8-0 when facing Northwestern State with the last match taking place Sept. 13, 2014. State has faced Louisiana 20 times since 1980, with the Bulldogs coming out on top 12 times.
Bulldog fans will see two familiar faces on the opposite bench. Kendall Murr who was a defensive specialist for Mississippi State (2018-21), is now an assistant coach for Eastern Kentucky. Jazmyne Johnson is the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator on the Louisiana staff. Johnson was right side and middle blocker at State from 2015-2016.
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Promotions
Friday is Opening Night at The Griss where the first 150 fans will receive a free t-shirt, followed by free ice cream to the first 200 freshman on Saturday. Sunday's match will be Volleyball 101 and Kids Day.Â
StarkVegas Classic Schedule
Friday, Aug. 2510 a.m. – Eastern Kentucky vs. Northwestern State | Live Stats
3 p.m. – Northwestern State vs. Louisiana | Live Stats
7 p.m. – Eastern Kentucky at Mississippi State | Live Stats | SEC Network+
Saturday, Aug. 26
2 p.m. – Eastern Kentucky vs. Louisiana| Live Stats
6 p.m. – Northwestern State at Mississippi State | Live Stats | SEC Network+
Sunday, Aug. 27
1 p.m. – Louisiana at Mississippi State | Live Stats | SEC Network+
For more information on the Bulldog volleyball program, visit HailState.com or search for "HailStateVB" on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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Players Mentioned
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