Bulldogs Set To Open SEC Play At Texas A&M

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Mississippi State's volleyball team completed a successful non-conference schedule to begin the 2023 season. Next up, the Bulldogs focus on a challenging SEC slate over the next 10 weeks.

State (7-3) begins its 18-round conference bout with Texas A&M (8-2) for a match in Reed Arena at College Station, Texas. First serve is set for 7 p.m. CT and will be televised nationally on SEC Network.

"We are looking forward to opening SEC play," head coach Julie Darty Dennis said. "We had a productive non-conference, and we learned a lot about ourselves. We have some good momentum going forward. The SEC is super tough top to bottom, so we know that we are going to have to bring our best effort every single time. We are very excited to head to Reed Arena and open against Texas A&M. We are ready to see what challenges are in front of us and we are ready to step up. We can't wait to see what Mississippi State volleyball is really made of. We are built for this and are ready to play."

The Bulldogs have won the last six matchups against the Aggies, with the latest coming last season on Oct. 7 (3-0) and on Oct. 8 (3-1) in College Station.

Mississippi State ranks among the SEC's top 5 in blocks per set (2.47) and digs per set (14.47).

Zoe Gonzales, SEC Defensive Player of the Week, has managed 1.07 kills per set and 1.07 blocks per set. This past weekend, Gonzales collected 15 blocks during the Maroon & White Invite. Against Lipscomb (09/14) she collected a season-high 10 blocks, while adding five more blocks versus Abilene Christian (09/16).

Amina Shackelford has registered 1.76 kills per set, 0.87 blocks per set and 0.58 digs per set. She recorded a season-high eight blocks versus Louisiana (08/27) and leads the team with a total of 33 blocks.

Karli Schmidt has ripped 3.50 kills per set on a .254 hitting percentage. She has reeled in 10-plus kills in eight out of ten matches, headed by a career-high 19-kill performance against FIU (09/02).

Sophie Agee has shined during her sophomore campaign, managing 2.49 kills and 2.11 digs per set. She tallied a career-high 21 kills and 21 digs against Western Michigan (09/08).

Caylee Sharkey has secured 1.08 kills per set, while Sanaa Williams has provided 0.95 kills per set and 0.91 blocks per set.

Alexa Fortin Goede and Emily Oerther have combined to dish out 347 assists and 124 digs. Individually Goede has issued 4.97 assists per set on the season. Last weekend Goede had back-to-back double-doubles with 10 assists and 10 digs against Lipscomb (09/14) and 22 assists and 10 digs versus Abilene Christian (09/16). Oerther has provided 4.27 assists per set and one double-double on the season.

Libero Lauren Myrick has reeled in 10-plus digs during nine of ten matches. She has eclipsed 20-plus digs in four out of ten matches this season, fueled by a career-best 27 digs against Louisiana (08/27). Myrick's 4.53 digs per set is second among SEC liberoes.

Defensive Specialist Mary Neal has started her freshman season off with 2.21 digs per set. Neal made her debut in the libero jersey during MSU's match against Abilene Christian (09/16) where she tallied a season-best 16 digs and five assists, while adding three aces.

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

Bulldogs Set To Open SEC Play At Texas A&M

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Players Mentioned

Sophie Agee

Alexa Fortin Goede

Zoe Gonzales

Lauren Myrick

Mary Neal

Emily Oerther

Karli Schmidt

Amina Shackelford

Caylee Sharkey

Sanaa Williams

Mississippi State University Athletics