Dawgs Beat Rival Rebels

Wednesday, October 23

Starkville

7 p.m.

Mississippi State

8-8,2-5SEC

Ole Miss

13-6,3-4SEC

Ole Miss

Mississippi St.

October 23, 2024 | Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

STARKVILLE – In front of a crowd of 1,043, the fifth-largest crowd in Newell-Grissom building history, the Mississippi State Bulldogs jumped back in the win column by taking down the Ole Miss Rebels, 3-1.

"This is by far the best volleyball we've played this year, and it couldn't have come at a better time or against a better opponent. I feel like this is a pivotal moment for us," head coach Julie Darty Dennis said. "Having 1,043 fans in here was unbelievable. They were in it the whole time and we look to have them back on Sunday for more volleyball"

After a loss in set one, the Bulldogs turned up the heat and took the next three sets. With six lead changes in set two, State took the victory on a block from Karli Schmidt and Rebecca Walk, 25-21. Set three saw 10 tied scores, but the Bulldogs would come out on top again, winning the set 25-20. The Rebels never took the lead or tied the score in the fourth set, as State would take the set 25-19.

"After that first set, the team was laser focused on defending their home court," Dennis said. "They were talking about how this was ours and they weren't taking it from us, and finished the game very fierce"

State distributed the attack well, as four players collected double-digit kills: Schmidt, Kailin Newsome, Amina Shackelford and Arissa Smith. This marked the third time this year State has had four players with double digit kill games.

Schmidt tied her season-high with a team-best 19 kills. This marked the fifth time she had picked up 15-plus kills this season. Newsome and Shackelford both picked up 13 kills.

The SEC hitting percentage leader, Smith, picked up 12 kills on the night on a .312 hitting percentage. Smith tied her career-high with eight total blocks in the contest, with two of those being solos.

Ceci Harness picked up a season-high four total blocks. Harness also picked up her third double-double of the season collecting 15 digs and a season-high and team-best 53 assists.

Newsome collected her ninth double-double of the year tallying 15 digs and 13 kills. match. McKenna Yates collected a team high 18 digs and Mele Corral-Blagojevich got 15 as well.

The Bulldogs are back home Sunday at 2 p.m. against the Arkansas Razorbacks. The match will be broadcast on SECN+.

Quoting Ceci Harness...
On battling back after set one
"Our biggest thing right now is playing hard for every point, we know that every point is so valuable. We just stay in it and trust our defense and scrapped away. It was a tough first set set, we had game point and we've been in that position before. I'm just so glad we were able to bounce back."

On transitioning to a single-setter system
"I was able to step into the role and do whatever it takes for this team to win. I really enjoyed being able to put my hitters in great positions, that's my favorite thing to do on the court. We had a few days to prepare, and this was the best way we felt we could win this game, so super happy about that."

On the game plan of knowing who to set
I talked to Julie before the match and just like getting certain hitters going. You know sometime practice days aren't the best and we might not feel amazing going into matches, but again we just all turned on a switch and we played amazing. All my hitters got going and I was super proud of them for that. There's always a game plan for sure in terms of like who I want to set but I think I told them in the middle of the game I have trust in every single one of you right now to put a ball away so whatever play they come over here and tell us to run I still think any one of you can put a ball away

On the atmosphere of The Griss
Coming into this game, everyone was talking about the matchup and you could feel the tension. I'm so glad we stepped into it. I've never had an experience like this before, I have chills thinking about it now. It was great, I've never had a in-state battle like this before in my career.

Quoting Arissa Smith...
On her attacking this match
"Before the game, I was telling myself I needed to be aggressive in everything I approached. From the service line, when I'm blocking, and getting kills, all of that. At the end of the day that's what it takes to win. Who wants it more is the question.

On Ceci's production on the front line
"People look at Ceci and say 'oh, she's short.' She has her hands pressed over, she can get blocks and was getting amazing touches and making it a lot easier for me. She set it up great so I could close and finish the goal."

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