Bulldogs Put Together Historic Comeback To Topple Ole Miss, 3-2

Wednesday, November 16

Starkville

7:00 PM

Mississippi State

13-17 (5-11SEC)

Ole Miss

15-13 (4-11SEC)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Ole Miss	25	25	18	17	8	2
Mississippi State	9	18	25	25	15	3

The Bulldogs mounted an amazing comeback on Wednesday, coming back from down 2-0 to defeat Ole Miss in five.

Bulldogs Put Together Historic Comeback To Topple Ole Miss, 3-2

November 17, 2016 | Volleyball

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – On this Wednesday night, Mississippi State was down, but never out. In historic fashion, the Bulldogs (13-17, 5-11 SEC) came back from a 2-0 hole to beat in-state rival Ole Miss (15-13, 4-11 SEC) in five sets (9-25, 18-25, 25-18, 25-17, 15-8) at Newell-Grissom.

The win was MSU's first from down 2-0 since storming back to defeat Eastern Michigan in five on Sept. 12, 2009. The win also gave the Dogs their third-straight win against the Rebels, the longest winning streak against their foes from Oxford since winning six-straight from 2004-06.

"That was an unreal performance by this team," MSU coach David McFatrich said. "In all my years of coaching, I have never been a part of a match like that and it was just amazing. The fight in these girls is unreal and they showed what Bulldog Volleyball is all about. Never giving up and fighting to the very end."

"And also cannot say enough but our fans and the atmosphere they brought, even through the rough first two sets. We are really blessed with an amazing family here at Mississippi State."

MSU continued its success at The Griss with the win, moving their season total to 10 home victories. That ties 2006 and 2015 for the most home victories in a season. The total also marks the first back-to-back 10 win home seasons in school history.

However, achieving that 10^th win was not an easy task. Ole Miss jumped out early and didn't look back in the first set, using stifling defense to take the opening frame, 25-9.

Despite more competitive play, MSU went to the locker room down 2-0 following a 25-18 set. Freshman Emily Hill led the Bulldogs offense before the break with four of her game-high 18 kills.

Then the comeback started.

The third set saw the State side come alive. Evie Grace Singleton had 6 kills, adding to Hill's 7, giving MSU a 25-18 set win to forced a fourth set.

In that fourth set, the tides started to turn for good. Riding the wave of Jelena Vujcin, who had 4 kills in the set, the Bulldogs turned on the heat and dominated their in-state foes. Freshman Riley Duzenack landed a pair of aces to help fuel the fire and propel the Maroon and White to a 25-17 victory, forcing one final frame to determine the winner.

After going down 2-1, the Bulldogs put it in gear and jumped out in front for good. MSU's 10-4 lead in the fifth set grabbed a strangle hold on the decisive frame. Vujcin continued to own the net while bringing energy to every point, as the junior had 3 kills to go along with 3 blocks, leading the Bulldogs to a statement win, 15-8.

Helping propel State's offensive efforts was setter Blossom Sato, whose 47 assists led all players. Four Bulldogs tallied double-digit digs, led by 17 from libero Cheyenne Spell. State was paced by Vujcin (5 blocks) and seniors Bali Leffall-Young (4) and Jazmyne Johnson (3) on the defensive side of the net.

The Dogs will now welcome Arkansas to The Griss on Sunday, Nov. 20. First serve is set for 3 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on SEC Network +.

Week Schedule…

Wednesday, Nov. 16
Mississippi State def. Ole Miss, 3-2 (9-25, 18-25, 25-18, 25-17, 15-8)

Sunday, Nov. 20
Mississippi State vs. Arkansas – 3 p.m. CT
SEC Network +
Starkville, Miss.
Newell-Grissom Building

Leading The Bulldogs…

Kills: Emily Hill, 18
Assists: Blossom Sato, 47
Aces: Riley Duzenack, 2
Digs: Cheyenne Spell, 17
Blocks: Jelena Vujcin, 5
Points: Emily Hill, 19.0

Dogs Make A Historic Comeback…
For the first time since 2009, Mississippi State completed a comeback after being down 2-0 in a match. The last time the Bulldogs accomplished the feat was Sept. 12, 2009 against Eastern Michigan.

McFatrich Holds Perfect Record Against McRoberts, Ole Miss…
MSU coach David McFatrich is now 3-0 against his former boss. McFatrich served under Ole Miss head coach Steven McRoberts from 2007-10 at Central Arkansas before taking over in 2011. Since joining the SEC, McFatrich has defeated McRoberts and the Rebels 3-0, 3-1 and now 3-2.

Bulldogs Continue In-State Dominance…
With the win on Wednesday night, the Bulldogs remained the victors in the battle for dominance in the Magnolia State. MSU has now won three-straight matches against the Rebels, marking the longest winning streak against their foes from the north since winning six-in-a-row from 2004-06.

Weathering The Storm…
State entered the night in the midst of its longest losing streak of the year, having dropped its last six contests. The victory against the Rebels snapped that drought and put the Bulldogs back in the win column.

Home Sweet Home For The Dogs…
The Bulldogs continue to find success within the friendly confines of Newell-Grissom, picking up their 10^th home victory of the year after defeating Ole Miss. That total ties 2006 and 2015 for the most home victories in a season with two more left to play.

MSU has also accomplished back-to-back 10 win seasons at home for the first time in school history.

Climbing Up The SEC Wins Chart…
Wednesday night's win moved MSU to five SEC victories on the year. That total moves the 2016 Bulldogs up to sixth place for most SEC wins in a season in MSU history. The school record stands at eight, achieved in 2006.

Johnson Takes Over Seventh On Season Blocks Chart…
With 3 total blocks on the night, Jazmyne Johnson took over sole possession of seventh place on the single season chart. She is now one away from tying Temeka Thomas' 1997 season of 123 blocks.

Singleton Rebounds From First Two Sets To Dominate…
The Evie Grace Singleton fans saw in the first set was not the one they were used two. However, the senior would bounce back in strong fashion, tallying 15 total kills on the night, including the match point kill to seal the comeback victory. She now has 462 kills on the year, taking over sole possession of second place on MSU's single-season chart. Christine Owen's 1997 season (513 kills) holds first place on the list.

Hill Climbing Up The Freshman Ladder…
Emily Hill led the way for the Dogs on Wednesday night with 18 kills and in the process continued her climb up the freshman record books. She now has 340 kills on the year, moving up to third and passing Aimee York's 1989 rookie season.

She also moved up to a tie for fourth place on the attacks chart with 933 on the year, tying Rachel Cooper's 2002 freshman season.

Duzenack Making Moves As Well…
With a pair of aces on the night, Riley Duzenack continued her climb up the freshman record books for aces. She now has 26 aces on the year, taking over 10^th place and breaking a tie with Kimmy Gardiner (2013) and Sara Segar (1988).

Up Next…
The Bulldogs continue their season-ending homestand with a Sunday afternoon matchup against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Nov. 20. First serve is set for 3 p.m. CT at The Griss and will be broadcast on SEC Network +.

Social Media…
For more information on Mississippi State volleyball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateVB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."