STARKVILLE — Mississippi State volleyball kept its current pace in SEC play over the weekend, recording a home win over Alabama on Friday before falling to No. 2 Texas on Sunday. 

The Bulldogs (12-2, 2-2 SEC) dropped a narrow first set 25-23 against the Tide, but recovered to take the win in the ensuing three sets. 

“Our execution from the service line got better as the match went on,” head coach Julie Darty Dennis told MSU media after the win. “The team managed risk well and set the tone early on. Cayley did a great job putting people in the right position at the right time. I’m very proud of the team. This was a gritty SEC win over a tough Alabama squad.”

Bernardita Aguilar led the team with 14 kills, a new career high, and Cayley Hanson picked up her third double-double of the season with 10 digs and 48 assists. 

The Bulldogs were back in action just two days later, falling to an Texas team in straight sets. 

MSU put up a fight in the second set, but ultimately fell 25-19 and couldn’t battle back in the third and final set. 

The team has another pair of home games coming up this weekend, facing in-state rivals Ole Miss in the Newell-Grissom Building at 6 p.m. Friday and No. 9 Texas A&M at 2 p.m. Sunday.