Dawgs Excited For SEC Play At The Griss
September 22, 2023 | Volleyball
MSU and Alabama square off Sunday at 4 p.m.
STARKVILLE – Anticipation has been growing, and it's finally here: Mississippi State volleyball is gearing up to start the home portion of the Southeastern Conference schedule at the Newell-Grissom Building.
The Bulldogs will host Alabama on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. after what has been a successful start to the season. The team posted an impressive 7-3 record in non-conference play, sweeping both the StarkVegas Classic and the Maroon and White Invite and finding ways to improve along the way.
So, what's to be expected of this year's team as it enters the thick of its schedule? According to head coach Julie Darty Dennis, her student-athletes are focused on making some big strides throughout the rest of the year.
"It's just a group of hungry and humble individuals that want to put the team first and play hard for each other," Dennis said.
Mississippi State boasts a fiery offensive attack, spearheaded by an experienced group of setters and outside hitters. Senior Karli Schmidt leads the team with 142 kills, and Alexa Fortin Goede's 204 assists have been a difference-maker on the court.
However, through the year's first several matches, Dennis said that her Bulldogs' stalwart defense has been the driving force behind some of their biggest victories.
"When we were blocking more balls than we had in the past and were digging more balls with it, it just felt like we were playing a little harder on defense, which was awesome to see," Dennis said.
Among those tough defenders is Zoe Gonzales, a graduate student who has started her final year with a bang. She was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week following an impressive performance in the Maroon and White Invite in which she tallied 15 blocks and 17 points scored through two matches.
"I think [Gonzales] just sees the game really well and she's really smart," Dennis said. "She just does a good job of getting the assignment done."
Libero Lauren Myrick might be in a new role with the team than in past seasons, but she has proven that she can find success no matter which position she plays. Dennis had high praise for Myrick, who was selected as one of the team's captains during the preseason.
"[Myrick's] embraced it, she's done a really, really nice job," Dennis said of Myrick's shift from outside hitter to libero. "She's in a leadership role for us, she's in a new role on the floor and she's just doing a fantastic job with both of those things."
Mississippi State's unity and the leadership of veteran players have undoubtedly been some of the biggest reasons why the Bulldogs have piled on the victories early on, but they aren't the only ones. The team's coaches have also shined. Dennis had high praise for her assistants, which include Fritz Rosenberg, Aaron King and Alleah Stamatis.
"I love the staff that we've put together, and I think that it's a really solid group and we complement each other in ways," Dennis said.
Beyond the walls of The Griss, other coaches within Mississippi State's athletic department have shown their support to the VolleyDawgs— and Dennis has done likewise for their programs. Whether sending an uplifting message to soccer head coach James Armstrong or heading to Dudy Noble Field during the spring to watch Chris Lemonis and the Diamond Dawgs, Dennis has enjoyed cheering on her colleagues and watching them pack The Griss to encourage her in return.
"Anything we can do to support each other and encourage each other, we do," Dennis said.
Mississippi State has drawn in impressive crowds through its first matches in its home slate, and the crowds are expected to keep getting bigger as the Bulldogs push deeper into SEC play. The thunderous cheers echoing around the arena impact each set and don't go unnoticed by the players and staff alike.
"Our home court advantage is what makes us go," Dennis said. "We love our fans; we love our family and friends out there. They give us an edge at The Griss like we don't have anywhere else."
Fans who are heading to their first match of the season might be shocked to see the many changes that have been made at the Newell-Grissom Building over the span of just a few months. A new video board has been added to give more of the crowd an up-close view of the action, and the court has been remodeled using Taraflex, giving it a brighter look.
Even quick snack breaks between sets will look a bit different. New graphics adorn the walls in the concession stand lobby, and fresh carpet lines the floor.
"I think that it does feel different, and we're going to continue to keep making upgrades," Dennis said.
The Bulldogs simply provide too much fun for fans to miss. After one rowdy matchup in The Griss, it's safe to say that fans with all levels of volleyball knowledge will be itching to come back and help Mississippi State pack the stands week in and week out.
"People just fall in love with the sport, and they just want to keep coming back for more," Dennis said. "I'm hoping that we can set some attendance records this season."
What better way to round out a busy weekend than with a Sunday Darty Party at The Griss as Mississippi State welcomes Alabama? Dennis and the VolleyDawgs can't wait to welcome fans back to their home court for another exciting season of SEC action.
"We need everybody to come out loud and proud," Dennis said.
