Georgia Drops Four-Set Match in SEC Opener

Wednesday, September 21

Starkville, Miss,

8:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

9-3,0-1SEC

Mississippi State

8-3,1-0SEC

Georgia

Mississippi St.

September 21, 2022 | Volleyball

Box Score

ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Georgia women's volleyball team fell to Mississippi State Wednesday evening in the 2022 Southeastern Conference opener in four sets (14-25, 25-20, 15-25, 15-25) at Newell-Grissom Building.

Senior Kacie Evans topped the double-digit kill mark in the match, tallying 12. Evans earned her first double-double of the season with 12 digs.

Sophomore Abby Maesch laid down a season-best 13 kills to lead the Bulldogs' offense in the SEC opener. Junior Sophie Fischer also topped the double-digit mark at 11 kills while also recording two service aces.

Sophomore libero Bailey Cox put up 13 digs in the match. Meghan Froemming and Fischer co-led the Bulldogs with two blocks.

Three-straight kills from Shania Cromartie propelled Mississippi State (8-3, 1-0) to a quick lead in the opening set. The MSU defense prevented Georgia (9-3, 0-1) from stringing together more than one point, exhausting Georgia's timeouts at 16-8. Mississippi State kept its foot on the gas, taking set one 25-14. Evans paced UGA's offense with five kills to begin the match.

Georgia jumped out to an early 5-1 lead in the second set, but Mississippi State battled to go ahead 8-7. Fueled by four kills and a block from Fischer, Georgia used a 6-1 run to go back in front four points, 13-9. Mississippi State rallied to cut the lead to one at 18-17, forcing a Georgia timeout. Back-to-back MSU errors and a Bulldog block widened Georgia's lead 21-17. Georgia held on to take the set 25-20, tying the match at a set apiece.

Mississippi State forced an early Georgia timeout as MSU went out in front 7-1 to open the third set. The early deficit was too much to overcome for Georgia as Mississippi State took the third set 25-15, retaking the lead in the match.

UGA was able to whittle an early MSU lead to one then a 4-1 run put Mississippi State back in front 11-7, forcing a Georgia timeout. Down 13-8, four-straight from Georgia once again cut the lead to one, capped by am Alexa Fortin ace, prompting a timeout from the other Bulldog bench. Following the timeout, MSU rattled off seven-straight points to widen its margin to 20-12. Mississippi State held on to take the set 25-15 and the match in four sets.

The Bulldogs returns to Stegeman Coliseum to open a three-match homestand beginning next Wednesday when South Carolina comes to town. First serve between the Bulldogs and Gamecocks is set for 7 p.m., ET, on ESPNU.