STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State women’s soccer team will try to get back on the winning track at 6 tonight when it plays host to No. 20 Kentucky in its annual “Breast Cancer Awareness” game at the MSU Soccer Field.
Fans are encouraged to wear pink to support the cause.
MSU (3-7-3, 1-3-2 Southeastern Conference) is coming off a 2-0 loss to Georgia on Friday night at the Turner Soccer Complex in Athens, Georgia. The loss dropped MSU to 12th in the SEC standings with five regular-season matches remaining. The top 10 squads will qualify for the SEC tournament on Nov. 2-8 at the Orange Beach Sportsplex in Orange Beach, Alabama.
“We have to move on and put this game behind us,” MSU coach Aaron Gordon said. “Bottom line is that this was a missed opportunity after looking at the conference race and how things are shaking out. It was a hard-fought game and statistically even I thought, neither team got great chances to be honest. Ultimately our concentration level has to be better at the beginning of the game.”
No. 20 Kentucky (9-2-3, 3-1-2) is coming off a 0-0 tie against Vanderbilt on Friday.
n Volleyball team will play host to Georgia: At Starkville, the volleyball team will wrap up a three-match homestand at noon today when it plays Georgia at the Newell-Grissom Building.
MSU (12-6, 2-3) is coming off a 3-1 loss to Missouri Tigers (15-1, 3-0) on Friday night in Starkville. Set scores were 25-27, 28-26, 22-25, 17-25.
“That was a tough match for us, but I am extremely proud of the heart and soul our girls showed,” MSU coach David McFatrich said. “That was the kind of fight I love to see in this team. If we play like that and fix a few technical things here and there, we’re going to be in good shape from here on out. And I want to give a heartfelt thank you to the crowd tonight. Our fans are amazing and it is a blessing to be a part of the Mississippi State family.”
MSU’s Alex Warren led all players with 19 kills. Jazmyne Johnson had 10 kills, while Blossom Sato had 40 assists for her sixth match of 40-plus assists this season. Emily Howard led MSU with four blocks, while Payton Harris tied for match honors with 24 digs.
n Lee advances to consolation finals: At Pacific Palisades, California, No. 23 Jasmine Lee defeated UCLA’s No. 22 Catherine Harrison 6-0, 6-2 Saturday in the consolation semifinal sat the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships.
Today, Lee will face Virginia’s No. 3 Julia Elbaba, the top seed in the consolation draw. The winner will receive automatic entry into USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships on Nov. 12-15 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York.
“Jasmine had another incredible performance today,” MSU assistant coach Sachin Kirtane said. “She had very high performance serves to help her defeat another top-25 opponent. Harrison was a big hitter, but Jasmine did was able to neutralize the ground strokes. We are ready to come out and play tomorrow in the consolation finals.”
n On Friday, Lee earned two wins against top-20 opponents to reach the semifinals of the consolation draw. Lee defeated Southern California’s 10th-ranked Giuliana Olmos (seeded fourth in consolation) 6-2, 6-3, to notch her first career victory against an opponent ranked in the top 10 nationally.
In the quarterfinals, Lee battled LSU’s 20th-ranked Joana Vale Costa. Lee claimed the first set 6-2 before Vale Costa was forced to retire due to an injury.
n MSU to hold supply drive for South Carolina flood victims: At Starkville, MSU Athletics is urging the Golden Triangle and Starkville community to help support fellow Southeastern Conference member South Carolina and the greater Columbia area that was devastated by recent floods.
Residents are asked to donate toilet paper, paper towels, moist wipes, antibacterial wipes, and plastic flatware from 1-5 p.m. Thursday and Friday in the lobby of the Bryan Athletic Administration Building (288 Lakeview Drive).
The Red Cross has said those supplies are of the greatest need at this time.
Additionally, those wishing to donate financially can do so by making a minimum $10 contribution to the Red Cross via www.redcross.org or by texting the word REDCROSS to 90999.
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