University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
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Mississippi State
NO. 18 LADY VOLS OVERPOWER MISSISSIPPI STATE IN THREE
October 08, 2004 | Volleyball
Oct. 8, 2004
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- A 30-20, 30-21, 30-24 sweep over Mississippi State gave the 18th-ranked University of Tennessee volleyball team a 15-1 start (5-0 in Southeastern Conference play) to continue its hottest overall start since 1973 and best SEC start in school history.
"I was very proud of how hard we played tonight," Head Coach Rob Patrick said. "Mississippi State also played hard and at a high level and had one of the best matches I've seen them play."
Junior middle blocker Kristen Andre (Kelseyville, Calif. / Kelseyville H.S.) kept her hot season going with a spectacular .565 hitting percentage (14-1-23) to go with two service aces, five digs and six blocks.
"One great thing about this team is that different people can step up for us and help us be successful," Patrick said. "One constant has been Kristen. When we need something to happen, such as good serving or a kill for a side out, she's the one that consistently comes through for us."
Sophomore middle blocker Sarah Blum (Tulsa, Okla. / Bishop Kelley H.S.) and senior outside hitter Michelle Piantadosi (Boca Raton, Fla. / Olympic Heights H.S.) also were strong contributors as Blum hit .462 (6-0-13) and Piantadosi had 13 kills, hitting .393.
Junior setter Julie Knytych (LaGrange Park, Ill. / Lyons Township H.S.) combined her excellent setting skills tonight, compiling 38 assists, by also leading the Lady Vols in digs with 16. Junior outside hitter Amy Morris (Michigan City, Ind. / Penn State) had 12 digs, while sophomore defensive specialist Cynthia Buggs (Compton, Calif. / Long Beach Poly H.S.) tallied 10 of her own.
Tennessee has now won seven straight SEC matches, dating back to last season, to tie its longest conference winning streak in school history, Oct. 13, 1984-Oct. 9, 1985. With the sweep, UT has been victorious in 22 straight games to extend that school record. In all matches, the Orange and White has won 18 consecutive games, the longest such streak since the 1973 squad ran off victories in its first 34 games of the season.
With a 9-2 run early in game one, the Lady Vols took a 12-6 lead and did not let the Bulldogs within four the rest of the way before prevailing, 30-20. Game two was tight from the outset as neither squad could garner greater than a two-point advantage until UT ran off seven straight points for a 28-20 advantage on its way to a 30-21 victory.
In the final game, Tennessee ran off six consecutive points for an 11-6 advantage and then tallied eight straight points for a 21-10 lead. MSU would then rally back with a 12-3 run of its own to come within three, 27-24, before UT scored the final three points of the match.
Next up for the Lady Vols on the Magnolia State road trip is Ole Miss at 1:30 p.m. CDT on Sunday.
