University of Tennessee Athletics
Saturday, March 6
Knoxville
6:30 PM
University of Tennessee
8-6,8-6SEC
3
vs
0
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Mississippi State
4-12,4-12SEC
1
2
3
F
Mississippi St.
19
17
21
0
Tennessee
25
25
25
3
Tennessee Sweeps Mississippi State to Win Series
March 06, 2021 | Volleyball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Danielle Mahaffey and Morgahn Fingall led the Lady Vol volleyball team to victory Saturday night at Thompson-Boling Arena as UT swept Mississippi State in three sets (25-19, 25-17, 25-21) to clinch the series sweep.
Tennessee (8-6, 8-6 SEC) hit .280 on the night and collected 10 total blocks as it used another strong offensive and defensive effort to rout the Bulldogs. Mississippi State (4-12, 4-12 SEC) struggled with errors all match, committing 24 and hitting just .128.
Fingall and Mahaffey tied for the team-lead in kills Saturday with each scoring 14. For Fingall, it continues her double-digit kill streak, pushing it to six-straight matches with 10-plus kills. The right side added six digs and two total blocks to her night's work.
Fresh off tying the single-match school-record for solo blocks Friday night, Mahaffey proved lethal in attack Saturday, hitting .542 en route to her 14 kills. The middle blocker netted three total blocks on the night.
On the backline, libero Madison Bryant had a solid night with 15 digs, four assists and a career-high three service aces.
Setter Natalie Hayward dished out 29 assists, dug seven balls, earned two total blocks, scored a service ace and picked up a kill in the sweep.
The opening set saw the momentum swing back-and-forth between the Lady Vols and Bulldogs as Mississippi State jumped out to an early lead. UT responded with an 8-1 run to snatch the first set lead away from MSU.
A six-point run from Mississippi State knotted the score at 16-16 before both teams traded points to make it 18-18 late in the set. The Lady Vols closed out the first set on a 7-1 run to go ahead with a 25-19 first set victory.
Tennessee controlled the second set throughout, taking an 18-8 lead before an MSU 6-0 run cut it down to 18-14. The Big Orange quickly regained their composure and finished off the Bulldogs in the second, winning 25-17.
MSU fought back in the third set, jumping out to a 7-3 lead. UT chipped away, tying the third at 10-10 and again at 12-12 before securing the lead at 15-14. State then used a 4-1 run to regain the advantage at 18-16.
After a Tennessee timeout, the Lady Vols came back again to put away Mississippi State, ending the set and match on a 9-3 run.
UP NEXT
Tennessee begins a two-week road swing March 13 and 14 at Arkansas. Both matches in Fayetteville begin at 3 p.m. ET.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Eve Rackham Watt
On the importance of this weekend's series…
"I think we take each weekend day-by-day and each match one at a time. That being our singular focus. I don't know that we put anymore importance on this match than we did yesterday's or last week's or next week's, but I think for this team to accomplish the goals that we have set, every match is the most important for us."
On the play of Morgahn Fingall and Danielle Mahaffey…
"Both of them came through in so many clutch situations. A lot of first ball kills for Danielle and a lot of transition swings for Morgahn. They were able to carry us offensively tonight, which is a change a little bit from what we have been doing or what we have looked like and I think that's going to benefit us in the long run."
Middle Blocker Danielle Mahaffey
On her comfort level of moving from outside hitter to middle blocker…
"At first, I was very nervous. But now I am just going into it with a positive attitude and helping my team. Whatever I can do to help make something easier for somebody else is the way to go."
On Morgahn Fingall's spring performance…
"I think her confidence is through the roof. We're all out there ready for her to swing away. We're behind her every step of the way and I think her confidence has grown from last year to this year and it shows."
Tennessee (8-6, 8-6 SEC) hit .280 on the night and collected 10 total blocks as it used another strong offensive and defensive effort to rout the Bulldogs. Mississippi State (4-12, 4-12 SEC) struggled with errors all match, committing 24 and hitting just .128.
Fingall and Mahaffey tied for the team-lead in kills Saturday with each scoring 14. For Fingall, it continues her double-digit kill streak, pushing it to six-straight matches with 10-plus kills. The right side added six digs and two total blocks to her night's work.
Fresh off tying the single-match school-record for solo blocks Friday night, Mahaffey proved lethal in attack Saturday, hitting .542 en route to her 14 kills. The middle blocker netted three total blocks on the night.
On the backline, libero Madison Bryant had a solid night with 15 digs, four assists and a career-high three service aces.
Setter Natalie Hayward dished out 29 assists, dug seven balls, earned two total blocks, scored a service ace and picked up a kill in the sweep.
The opening set saw the momentum swing back-and-forth between the Lady Vols and Bulldogs as Mississippi State jumped out to an early lead. UT responded with an 8-1 run to snatch the first set lead away from MSU.
A six-point run from Mississippi State knotted the score at 16-16 before both teams traded points to make it 18-18 late in the set. The Lady Vols closed out the first set on a 7-1 run to go ahead with a 25-19 first set victory.
Tennessee controlled the second set throughout, taking an 18-8 lead before an MSU 6-0 run cut it down to 18-14. The Big Orange quickly regained their composure and finished off the Bulldogs in the second, winning 25-17.
MSU fought back in the third set, jumping out to a 7-3 lead. UT chipped away, tying the third at 10-10 and again at 12-12 before securing the lead at 15-14. State then used a 4-1 run to regain the advantage at 18-16.
After a Tennessee timeout, the Lady Vols came back again to put away Mississippi State, ending the set and match on a 9-3 run.
UP NEXT
Tennessee begins a two-week road swing March 13 and 14 at Arkansas. Both matches in Fayetteville begin at 3 p.m. ET.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Eve Rackham Watt
On the importance of this weekend's series…
"I think we take each weekend day-by-day and each match one at a time. That being our singular focus. I don't know that we put anymore importance on this match than we did yesterday's or last week's or next week's, but I think for this team to accomplish the goals that we have set, every match is the most important for us."
On the play of Morgahn Fingall and Danielle Mahaffey…
"Both of them came through in so many clutch situations. A lot of first ball kills for Danielle and a lot of transition swings for Morgahn. They were able to carry us offensively tonight, which is a change a little bit from what we have been doing or what we have looked like and I think that's going to benefit us in the long run."
Middle Blocker Danielle Mahaffey
On her comfort level of moving from outside hitter to middle blocker…
"At first, I was very nervous. But now I am just going into it with a positive attitude and helping my team. Whatever I can do to help make something easier for somebody else is the way to go."
On Morgahn Fingall's spring performance…
"I think her confidence is through the roof. We're all out there ready for her to swing away. We're behind her every step of the way and I think her confidence has grown from last year to this year and it shows."
Team Stats
MSU
UT
Kills
39
38
Errors
24
8
Attempts
117
107
Hitting %
.128
.280
Points
47
53
Assists
39
35
Aces
3
5
Blocks
5
10
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
DS/L
/ VolleyballRS
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH/RS
/ VolleyballEverything Orange S3 | Chelsea Sutton (Volleyball)
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Everything Orange S2 I Volleyball Mashup
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