Mississippi State’s volleyball team found the response it needed to grind out a third consecutive winning weekend as the Bulldogs knocked off Oklahoma 25-18, 25-16, 25-27, 25-14 to conclude the Georgia Tech Classic Friday at O’Keefe Gymnasium in Atlanta.
The Bulldogs (7-2) posted victories over Big Ten (Indiana) and Big 12 (Oklahoma) opponents over the weekend. State’s last win over a Big 12 opponent came against Baylor on Sept. 11, 2011.
“I’m very excited for our team,” Bulldogs coach Julie Darty Dennis said. “We talked about wanting to finish the weekend 2-1 after falling to a nationally ranked (No. 21) Georgia Tech team on their home floor (Thursday) night. Our team is learning and progressing from one weekend to the next.”
Mississippi State’s setting duo of Gabby Coulter and Margaret Dean paired up to pass out 49 assists and record 14 digs. Coulter did the heavy lifting with 30 assists and eight digs. The Bulldogs were in-system for most of the match en route to 57 kills and a .277 attack percentage. Six players got into the act with at least five kills.
Mississippi State will concludes its nonconference slate at home from Sept. 17-19 at the Hail State Invitational. The Bulldogs will meet Syracuse at 6 p.m. Friday, South Alabama at 6 p.m. Saturday and Jackson State at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Sunday’s match will be televised nationally by SEC Network, while the Friday and Saturday matches will be carried online courtesy of SEC Network+ and the Watch ESPN app. Admission is free to all volleyball matches. Doors open 60 minutes prior to first serve.
Women’s soccer
Owls net first win of season vs. Agnes Scott
After being shut out during the first half, the Mississippi University for Women women’s soccer team netted three goals during the second half to post a 3-1 win over Agnes Scott College on Saturday at the Lowndes County Soccer Complex.
Senior midfielder Hannah Helms evened the match at 1-1 during the 61st minute off of an assist from Adriana Parsons. The game remained tied until the 76th minute, when Millie Mask, playing her first game for The W, drove the ball inside the far post with an assist from Aubrey Baughman for a 2-1 Owls lead.
Sarah Havens assisted Helms on an insurance goal during the 79th minute.
Meanwhile, The W goalkeeper Sarah Gilliland registered three saves to preserve The W’s first win of the young 2021 campaign.
The Owls will travel to Sewanee, Tennessee for a 5 p.m. Wednesday match against Sewanee.
Men’s soccer
Lopes nets 4 goals as Owls sweep Eureka
Junior midfielder Vini Lopes recorded a goal and two assists, while senior forward Josh Martin scored off of a Lopes assist and assisted on one of Lopes’ goals as the Mississippi University for women men’s soccer team wrapped up a successful Illinois trip with a 6-0 win over Eureka College on Friday.
The Owls (2-1) also defeated the Red Devils on Thursday by a 5-2 score.
Six players scored during Friday’s victory, with senior midfielder Pedro Santana and junior midfielders Pedro Santana, Stephon Walker and Paulo Carneiro also netting goals.
The W goalkeeper David McCutchen faced only two shots on goal, turning aside both for the Owls’ first shutout of the season. The W outshot Eureka 27-6 and held a 13-2 advantage in shots on goal.
The wins were significant for the Owls’ program because Eureka is a member of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, which The W will be joining when it completes its transition to NCAA Division III.
Next up, the Owls will travel to Cleveland to take on Delta State, a member of the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference, at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Prep Volleyball
New Hope 3, Heritage Academy 0: Madyson McBrayer posted a team-leading 11 kills and Annie Woolbright recorded 9 service points, including 3 aces Thursday as the New Hope High School volleyball team rolled to a 25-16, 25-12, 25-10 win over Heritage Academy.
Kensley Woolbright led the Trojans in serves received with 11 as New Hope improved its regular season record to 5-2.
Prep Softball
Magnolia Heights 11, Starkville Academy 1: Elizabeth Basel singled to center to score Mallory Markham in the top of the fifth inning for the only run for the Volunteers.
Four Starkville Academy (9-5) errors led to six unearned runs for the Chiefs, who scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth to wrap up the win and sweep the season series.
Caralyne Montgomery doubled for the Vols, while Ali Grace Williams, Calliope Koiva and Sarah Sellers each singled.
Starkville Academy continues MAIS Class 5A-1 play at 6 p.m. today against Bayou Academy in Starkville.
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