STARKVILLE — Mississippi State had used a two-setter rotation all season, but after five straight losses, head coach Julie Darty Dennis felt it was time to shake things up.
The Bulldogs had been winning a lot more points with graduate transfer Ceci Harness on the floor as opposed to sophomore Erin Kline. So heading into Wednesday night’s match against Ole Miss, Darty Dennis switched to a 5-1 system with Harness as the lone setter. Harness ran the offense beautifully, racking up 53 assists as MSU rallied back from a set down to defeat the rival Rebels, 26-28, 25-21, 25-20, 25-19.
“I laid it all out for them this week. I’m like, ‘We’ve got to find people who can score points and work hard all the time,’” Darty Dennis said. “Erin’s a great teammate and she supported the decision, and she worked hard all week in practice on the second side to get them ready. There were a couple times I was looking down the bench to get (Kline) ready, but Ceci did a really nice job tonight with the offense.”
The Bulldogs (8-8, 2-5 Southeastern Conference) led for almost the entirety of the opening set and had three chances to close it out, but Ole Miss (13-6, 3-4) staved off four set points in all and took the set in extra points on back-to-back kills by Nia Washington. MSU struggled to contain Washington early but clamped down on the Rebels’ kill leader late — Washington had 15 kills through the first two sets but just six over the last two.
The missed opportunity to take an early lead followed the same script as last Sunday’s match at Missouri, when the Bulldogs blew several set points in the opening set and ultimately lost in four. Ole Miss scored five straight points out of the TV timeout in the second set to take a 17-15 lead, but MSU weathered the storm, jumping back in front when Harness set up Karli Schmidt for a kill.
“I was ready to step into the role. I’m ready to do whatever it takes for this team to win,” Harness said. “I really enjoy being able to put my hitters in great positions. That’s my favorite thing to do on the court.”
The Bulldogs won the last four points to close out the set, with Harness serving on the last three. The third set was once again back and forth before MSU went on a 7-0 run — mostly on Harness’ serve — to bring up set point. Although the Rebels stayed alive with three straight points, the Bulldogs clinched the set when Washington misfired.
MSU carried that momentum into the fourth set, opening up a 15-6 lead before an Ole Miss rally that was too little, too late.
“I really felt the tension and the pressure, and I’m just so glad we stepped into it,” said Harness, who played two years at McNeese and two years at North Texas before coming to MSU. “I’ve never experienced something like that before. That was insane. I got chills thinking about it just now.”
Fifth-year senior Karli Schmidt tied a season high with 19 kills, leading four Bulldogs in double figures. Amina Shackelford and Kailin Newsome added 13 apiece, and Arissa Smith chipped in with 12.
Five MSU players had at least 10 digs, led by libero McKenna Yates with 18. Harness, Newsome and freshman Mele Corral-Blagojevich each had 15. Smith was also a force on the defensive end with eight total blocks.
“This is always one that’s circled on the schedule. To break the streak against this team feels really good, and it’s going to give us a lot of confidence moving forward,” Darty Dennis said. “It’s renewed our sense of who we are, and we’re excited for this final stretch.”
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