University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
9-4, 0-1
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Mississippi State
9-6, 1-0
Vols Drop SEC Opener to MSU, 3-0
September 23, 2016 | Volleyball
Final Stats |
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Volunteers lost their SEC volleyball opener to Mississippi State 3-0 (26-24, 25-23, 25-22) on Friday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Vols (9-4, 0-1 SEC) led Mississippi State (9-6, 1-0) most statistical categories, but the Bulldogs held off UT runs in all three sets to close out the match.
Senior Bri Holmes led the Vols with 14 kills, and freshman Tessa Grubbs added 13. Freshman Sedona Hansen had her sixth double-double of the season with 33 assists and 10 digs, and sophomore Erica Treiber had six kills and seven blocks.
Junior Claudia Coco came into the match late in each set to serve with the Vols facing set points. Tennessee saved 10 set points across all three sets, five on her serve.
Tennessee concludes the opening SEC weekend against Georgia (12-2, 0-1) on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Thompson-Boling Arena.
In the first set, Mississippi State broke a 20-20 tie with four unanswered points to go up 24-20. The Vols answered with four straight points to tie the set 24-24, but the Bulldogs won the next two points on back-to-back kills by Jelena Vujcin.
The Vols trailed by as many as six points in the second set but won four of five points at a stretch to tie the match 20-20 on a kill by Holmes. Mississippi State won the next two points to take the lead for good, eventually closing the set at 25-23 on a kill by Emily Hill.
In the third set, Tennessee fell behind by nine points at 19-10 but fought off four match points to close MSU's lead to 24-22. Vujcin clinched the match for the Bulldogs on the next point.
The Vols led Mississippi State in hitting percentage (.278 to .204), digs (42 to 29) and blocks (9.0 to 8.0).
NOTES
- Tennessee starters: Erica Treiber, Sedona Hansen, Britney Vallez, Alyssa Andreno, Raina Hembry, Bri Holmes and Bridgette Villano at libero.
- Holmes has recorded at least 10 kills in eight matches this season and Grubbs has been in double-digit kills 10 times.
- Treiber has had seven or more blocks three times this year.
- Hansen has six double-doubles this season.
