Mississippi State volleyball couldn’t find its way against No. 12 Florida on Sunday, falling in three sets at the Newell-Grissom Building in Starkville. Set scores were 25-18, 25-15, 25-21.
“From the service line we did a fantastic job getting them into a little bit of trouble,” MSU volleyball coach Julie Darty said in a news release. “We’re going to have to pass the ball well, and we’re going to have to run our middles and right [sides] like we need to.
“We have to stay balanced, and I think when we pass the ball, we get to feed our middles and our rights.”
The Bulldogs (13-13, 2-12 SEC) nearly pulled off a third-set victory against the Gators (20-3, 11-1 SEC), but Florida rallied late to clinch the straight set win.
“We found it a little late in the third set, but I really feel like we have to be the same team when we start matches and when we finish,” Darty said. “I want to challenge our team to execute every part of the game plan.”
In the battle on the net, Mississippi State bested Florida’s blockers, 6-2. Sophomore Deja Robinson led the team with three blocks.
“Credit to our blockers. I think it’s huge that we out-blocked Florida, but everything behind the block just has to pick it up. We have to dig the balls that are hit right at us and convert in transition.”
MSU is back in action on Sunday against Georgia at 1 p.m. at the Newell-Grissom Building.
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