Saturday, September 17
Starkville
2:00 PM
Mississippi State
8-5
3
vs
0
Eastern Illinois
3-11
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Illinois | 17 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| Mississippi State | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
The Bulldogs were dominant in Saturday's first match, defeating EIU in straight sets.
September 17, 2016 | Volleyball
STARKVILLE, Miss. โ On the final day of the non-conference schedule, the Mississippi State Volleyball team swept Eastern Illinois (25-17, 25-19, 25-19) before losing a heartbreaker to Portland in five sets (25-23, 25-15, 22-25, 21-25, 8-15) on Friday.
ย
The match closed out MSU's second home tournament and final weekend of non-conference play. Portland captured the 2016 Maroon Classic title, with MSU finishing second, followed by Florida International, Eastern Illinois and Troy.
ย
"I felt like we started out the day on the right foot against Eastern Illinois, coming out with a lot of energy and aggression," MSU coach David McFatrich said. "We had a strong start against Portland, but we're still struggling to execute in crunch time and could not pull out the victory."
ย
MSU started the day off by winning it's sixth-straight home match, taking down Eastern Illinois.ย The Bulldogs cruised early and often winning the first set 25-17 behind an 11-4 run midway through the set. Set number two featured 6 kills from Senior Evie Grace Singleton leading to 25-19 win. MSU closed out the match in the same 25-19 fashion.
ย
Freshman Emily Hill added 10 kills to Singleton's match-high 19 to lead the Bulldogs offensively. Cheyenne Spell set a career-high 24 digs MSU on the defensive end.
ย
In the finale of the 2016 Maroon Classic, MSU went up 2-0 before conceding the five-set match, 3-2. The evenly-fought contest started with a hard-fought first set that MSU won, 25-23. MSU rode an 11-1 run to a 25-15 second set win. After the break, Portland scored 11 of the first 17 points before staving off elimination and winning the third set, 25-22. In a match of runs, Portland's 7-1 run in the fourth proved too much for MSU to overcome, forcing a fifth set with a 25-21 victory. The Pilots jumped out to a 10-6 lead that they never gave up, going on to win the match's final set, 15-8, and completing their comeback.
ย
The trio of Singleton, Hill and Jelena Vujcin combined for 45 of the Bulldogs' 56 kills in the five-set affair. Freshman Riley Duzenack and Spell had 3 services aces each, both setting career highs. Singleton and Hill set season highs in digs with 15 and 10, respectively.
ย
"I told the team in the locker room that the competition only gets tougher from here now that we're getting into SEC play," McFatrich said. "However, I know this team is up to the challenge. We're going to get back in the gym this weekend, work hard and be ready to roll on Friday."
ย
State opens SEC play this weekend, heading to Tennessee and Kentucky. The conference season begins Friday Sept. 23 with a road trip to Knoxville, Tenn. to take on the Volunteers at 6:00 p.m. CT, before closing out with a Sunday showdown at Kentucky at 12:30 p.m. Both matches will be broadcasted on SEC Network +.
ย
2016 Maroon Classic Scheduleโฆ
Friday, Sept. 16
Mississippi State def. Florida International, 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 25-20, 22-25, 15-9)
Portland def. Troy, 3-2 (23-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-23, 15-8)
Florida International def. Eastern Illinois, 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-21)
Mississippi State def.. Troy, 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-15)
ย
Saturday, Sept. 17
Eastern Illinois def. Troy, 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 26-24)
Portland def. Florida International, 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-22)
Mississippi State def. Eastern Illinois, 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-19)
Florida International def. Troy, 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-20)
Portland def. Mississippi State, 3-2 (23-25, 15-25, 25-22, 25-21, 15-8)
ย
Leading The Bulldogsโฆ
ย
MSU vs. Eastern Illinois
ย
Kills: Evie Grace Singleton, 12
Assists: Blossom Sato, 21
Aces: Riley Duzenack, 2
Digs: Cheyenne Spell, 24
Blocks: Jazmyne Johnson, 2
Points: Evie Grace Singleton, 12.5
ย
MSU vs. Portland
ย
Kills: Evie Grace Singleton, 19
Assists: Blossom Sato, 28
Aces: Riley Duzenack & Cheyenne Spell, 3
Digs: Cheyenne Spell, 22
Blocks: Jazmyne Johnson & Jelena Vujcin, 7
Points: Evie Grace Singleton, 22.0
ย
2016 Maroon Classic All-Tournament Teamโฆ
ย
MVP: Hannah Troutman, Portland
Most Valuable Libero: Monica Gajda
All-Tournament Members: Katie Sullivan, Portland; Maddy Mandon, Portland; Cali Thompson, Portland; Evie Grace Singleton, MSU; Jelena Vujcin, MSU; Katie Hogan, FIU; Taija Thomas, FIU; Gina Furlin, EIU; Logan Page, Troy
ย
Spell Shines At Liberoโฆ
Saturday's first match was only Cheyenne Spell's second start of the season as the Bulldogs' libero, but that didn't keep her from showing out. Spell set a career high with 24 digs against EIU and turned in a similarly as solid showing with 22 against Portland.
ย
Spell also set a career high with 3 aces against the Pilots.
ย
Duzenack Dominates From Service Lineโฆ
Freshman Riley Duzenack was on point from the service line in Saturday's nightcap, tallying a career-high-tying 3 aces against the Pilots. In the first match of the day, the Melissa, Texas, native recorded a pair of aces against EIU.
ย
Harris Inching Closer To MSU Career Digs Recordโฆ
After Saturday's matches, junior Payton Harris is now two digs short of Shauna Owens in fourth place (1,371).
ย
SEC Play On Deckโฆ
This weekend marks the end of non-conference play for the 2016 season, as MSU will begin SEC play next weekend on the road. The Bulldogs will start conference play at Tennessee on Friday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. CT and at Kentucky on Sunday, Sept. 25 at 12:30 p.m. Both matches will be broadcasted on SEC Network +. State's home SEC slate will begin on Friday, Sept. 30, as MSU hosts Auburn at 7 p.m. on SEC Network +.
ย
Social Mediaโฆ
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."
ย
The match closed out MSU's second home tournament and final weekend of non-conference play. Portland captured the 2016 Maroon Classic title, with MSU finishing second, followed by Florida International, Eastern Illinois and Troy.
ย
"I felt like we started out the day on the right foot against Eastern Illinois, coming out with a lot of energy and aggression," MSU coach David McFatrich said. "We had a strong start against Portland, but we're still struggling to execute in crunch time and could not pull out the victory."
ย
MSU started the day off by winning it's sixth-straight home match, taking down Eastern Illinois.ย The Bulldogs cruised early and often winning the first set 25-17 behind an 11-4 run midway through the set. Set number two featured 6 kills from Senior Evie Grace Singleton leading to 25-19 win. MSU closed out the match in the same 25-19 fashion.
ย
Freshman Emily Hill added 10 kills to Singleton's match-high 19 to lead the Bulldogs offensively. Cheyenne Spell set a career-high 24 digs MSU on the defensive end.
ย
In the finale of the 2016 Maroon Classic, MSU went up 2-0 before conceding the five-set match, 3-2. The evenly-fought contest started with a hard-fought first set that MSU won, 25-23. MSU rode an 11-1 run to a 25-15 second set win. After the break, Portland scored 11 of the first 17 points before staving off elimination and winning the third set, 25-22. In a match of runs, Portland's 7-1 run in the fourth proved too much for MSU to overcome, forcing a fifth set with a 25-21 victory. The Pilots jumped out to a 10-6 lead that they never gave up, going on to win the match's final set, 15-8, and completing their comeback.
ย
The trio of Singleton, Hill and Jelena Vujcin combined for 45 of the Bulldogs' 56 kills in the five-set affair. Freshman Riley Duzenack and Spell had 3 services aces each, both setting career highs. Singleton and Hill set season highs in digs with 15 and 10, respectively.
ย
"I told the team in the locker room that the competition only gets tougher from here now that we're getting into SEC play," McFatrich said. "However, I know this team is up to the challenge. We're going to get back in the gym this weekend, work hard and be ready to roll on Friday."
ย
State opens SEC play this weekend, heading to Tennessee and Kentucky. The conference season begins Friday Sept. 23 with a road trip to Knoxville, Tenn. to take on the Volunteers at 6:00 p.m. CT, before closing out with a Sunday showdown at Kentucky at 12:30 p.m. Both matches will be broadcasted on SEC Network +.
ย
2016 Maroon Classic Scheduleโฆ
Friday, Sept. 16
Mississippi State def. Florida International, 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 25-20, 22-25, 15-9)
Portland def. Troy, 3-2 (23-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-23, 15-8)
Florida International def. Eastern Illinois, 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-21)
Mississippi State def.. Troy, 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-15)
ย
Saturday, Sept. 17
Eastern Illinois def. Troy, 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 26-24)
Portland def. Florida International, 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-22)
Mississippi State def. Eastern Illinois, 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-19)
Florida International def. Troy, 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-20)
Portland def. Mississippi State, 3-2 (23-25, 15-25, 25-22, 25-21, 15-8)
ย
Leading The Bulldogsโฆ
ย
MSU vs. Eastern Illinois
ย
Kills: Evie Grace Singleton, 12
Assists: Blossom Sato, 21
Aces: Riley Duzenack, 2
Digs: Cheyenne Spell, 24
Blocks: Jazmyne Johnson, 2
Points: Evie Grace Singleton, 12.5
ย
MSU vs. Portland
ย
Kills: Evie Grace Singleton, 19
Assists: Blossom Sato, 28
Aces: Riley Duzenack & Cheyenne Spell, 3
Digs: Cheyenne Spell, 22
Blocks: Jazmyne Johnson & Jelena Vujcin, 7
Points: Evie Grace Singleton, 22.0
ย
2016 Maroon Classic All-Tournament Teamโฆ
ย
MVP: Hannah Troutman, Portland
Most Valuable Libero: Monica Gajda
All-Tournament Members: Katie Sullivan, Portland; Maddy Mandon, Portland; Cali Thompson, Portland; Evie Grace Singleton, MSU; Jelena Vujcin, MSU; Katie Hogan, FIU; Taija Thomas, FIU; Gina Furlin, EIU; Logan Page, Troy
ย
Spell Shines At Liberoโฆ
Saturday's first match was only Cheyenne Spell's second start of the season as the Bulldogs' libero, but that didn't keep her from showing out. Spell set a career high with 24 digs against EIU and turned in a similarly as solid showing with 22 against Portland.
ย
Spell also set a career high with 3 aces against the Pilots.
ย
Duzenack Dominates From Service Lineโฆ
Freshman Riley Duzenack was on point from the service line in Saturday's nightcap, tallying a career-high-tying 3 aces against the Pilots. In the first match of the day, the Melissa, Texas, native recorded a pair of aces against EIU.
ย
Harris Inching Closer To MSU Career Digs Recordโฆ
After Saturday's matches, junior Payton Harris is now two digs short of Shauna Owens in fourth place (1,371).
ย
SEC Play On Deckโฆ
This weekend marks the end of non-conference play for the 2016 season, as MSU will begin SEC play next weekend on the road. The Bulldogs will start conference play at Tennessee on Friday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. CT and at Kentucky on Sunday, Sept. 25 at 12:30 p.m. Both matches will be broadcasted on SEC Network +. State's home SEC slate will begin on Friday, Sept. 30, as MSU hosts Auburn at 7 p.m. on SEC Network +.
ย
Social Mediaโฆ
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."
Players Mentioned
S
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
RS/MB
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
OPP/MB
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
EIU
MS
Kills
24
46
Errors
17
15
Attempts
96
109
Hitting %
.073
.284
Points
29.0
53.0
Assists
23
40
Aces
2
4
Blocks
3.0
3.0
Game Leaders
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Sunday, September 27
Sunday, November 07
Thursday, November 04
Tuesday, October 26