Volleyball
Payton Harris is now the all-time digs leader in Mississippi State history as she recorded 1,715 on Sunday.
Mississippi State (9-10, 0-4 SEC) fell to No. 10 Kentucky (12-2, 3-0 SEC) in three (21-25, 20-25, 16-25), but for the senior from Houston, Texas, she now sits atop the record books.
“I didn't even know I hit the record,” Harris said. “My teammates told me, but I wasn't focused on it, I was focused on our game (Sunday). I am honored to have earned the career record during my time here at Mississippi State.”
There was a lot of communication on the court to start the first set, as the Bulldogs took an early six-point lead en route to building a 10-2 advantage.
MSU was in control of the game until the Wildcats tied it at 19-all. Sara Maddox had five kills and five points, but the Wildcats rallied and won the first set 25-21, after capitalizing on errors toward the end.
It was back and forth for most of the second set, as both teams fought hard. The game was decided on kills, as 28 were recorded. In the set, Harris recorded six digs, pushing her past Melissa Kariker for the record. Laura Rose Gray had four kills and a 1.000 hitting percentage, but Kentucky stayed in control of its lead and won 25-20.
The third mimicked the second with another tight match toward the front-end of the set. A kills battled ensued as the Bulldogs and Wildcats were no more than three points apart. Kills and errors were the deciding factor yet again as Kentucky won 25-16 to earn the sweep and collect its ninth-straight win against the Bulldogs.
“I'm proud of our team,” third-year coach David McFatrich said. “I feel like we took a few steps back against Ole Miss by the way we played the first two games. Even though we lost to the number 10 team in the nation, I feel like we took a couple steps forward. I feel like we are getting better. It hasn't resulted in any wins in the conference yet, but I do feel we are getting better. I'm proud of the team for the way we fought (Sunday).”
On Friday, MSU faces off against LSU in Baton Rouge. Game time is set for 6 p.m. on the SEC Network +.
Women's Tennis
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Represented by two players in the Riviera/ ITA All-American Championships Saturday, the Mississippi State women's tennis team's Janina Braun and Anastasia Rentouli each fell in their opening singles and doubles matches.
On the doubles side, the junior duo of Braun and Rentouli dropped a close 8-7(4) decision to North Carolina State's Bianca Moldovan and Adriana Reami. They faced Idaho's Lucia Badillos and Marianna Petrei on Sunday in the consolation draw.
In singles Saturday, State's veteran Rentouli was downed by Clemson's Fernanda Navarro 7-6(4), 7-5. Rentouli bounced back in consolation action defeating Pennsylvania's Ashley Zhu in straight sets 6-4, 6-0.
State's newcomer Braun was defeated by Texas' Katie Poluta 6-1, 6-3 in her opener.