Preview: South Carolina

STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State Bulldogs are headed to Columbia, South Carolina to face the South Carolina Gamecocks in their SEC opener. First serve is set for 6 p.m. Friday in the Carolina Volleyball Center, with the match being broadcast on SEC Network.

Gameday Info
Friday, September 27 (6 p.m.) at South Carolina
Live Video: hailst.at/3XJaXZC
Live Stats: hailst.at/3ZA5FlS

The First Serve

The Bulldogs enter the SEC opener on a five-game win streak.
McKenna Yates was named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week after her stellar performance in the sweep against Southern Miss.
In those two matches, Yates collected 35 digs, with a career-high 19 in the second match. She averaged 5.00 digs per set, which ranked second in the conference last week.
Yates' is the first freshman in program history to win a SEC Defensive Player of the Week Honor.
Mississippi State ranks 3rd nationally and 2nd in the SEC in assists per set with 13.71. Erin Kline leads the Bulldog setters with 6.00 assists per set.
On the Block: In the last two matches against Southern Miss, the Dawgs tallied 23 total blocks, with Arissa Smith leading the team with 7.5 blocks.
The Bulldogs are ranked third in the SEC in blocks per set (2.56).
Killing it: In game two against the Golden Eagles, Mississippi State collected 42 kills with Rebecca Walk hitting for a team-best .800 on with 8 kills on 10 total attacks.
Kine has totaled two service aces in both of the last two matches.

Scouting the Opponent

The Gamecocks are led by head coach Tom Mendoza.
Attackers: Oby Anadi is ranked 14^th nationally and 4^th in the SEC in hitting percentage tallying .439. Riley Whitesides ranks 17th nationally and 3rd in the conference in kills per set.
Setters: Sarah Jordan leads the team in assists collecting 352 on the year.
Blockers: Ellie Ruprich and Oby Anadi have totaled 26.5 and 21 blocks, respectively.
The Back Line: Freshman defensive specialist, Victoria Harris, has tallied 160 digs and is ranked 3^rd in the SEC in digs per set. She has also picked up 45 assists.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Erin Kline

Arissa Smith

Rebecca Walk

McKenna Yates

Mississippi State University Athletics