Starkville Thrills: Longhorns Volleyball Scores Big Against Mississippi State
STARKVILLE, Miss. – What a night it was for the Texas Longhorns Volleyball Team as they bounced back from their previous setback with an impressive four-set victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The match, held at the Newell-Grissom Building, saw the Longhorns take the win with scores of 25-8, 25-15, 21-25, and 25-17.
A Striking Performance
With this latest win, the Longhorns improved their overall record to 13 wins and 6 losses, bringing their conference record to 8 wins and 3 losses. The team showcased an exceptional performance, hitting an outstanding .372 as a whole. Not to mention, they managed to hold the Bulldogs to a mere .133 hitting percentage, which really put the pressure on Mississippi State throughout the match. The Longhorns also stood tall at the net, recording 11 blocks.
Madisen Skinner Shines Bright
Leading the charge for Texas was none other than Madisen Skinner, who had a remarkable night, racking up a season-high 25 kills. Not only that, but she also posted her third consecutive double-double with 10 digs. Now that’s what you call a phenomenal match!
On top of Skinner’s stellar performance, Reagan Rutherford contributed with 9 kills, while Ayden Ames matched her career-high with 8 kills and was instrumental in defense with a team-leading 7 blocks. Defensive powerhouse Jenna Wenaas dug deep with a team-high 17 digs and chipped in 8 kills as well. Let’s not forget about Averi Carlson, who had an impressive night with a season-high 45 assists and added 8 digs to her tally.
The Set Breakdown
The Longhorns started strong, delivering possibly one of their best sets this season by completely dominating the Bulldogs. They stormed through the first set with a score of 25-8, hitting a jaw-dropping .448 in that set. Meanwhile, they stifled Mississippi State, limiting them to a negative hitting percentage of -.250, allowing only three kills. Skinner lit up the court, delivering 6 kills while boasting a hitting percentage of .500.
In the second set, Texas kept their momentum going, winning 25-15 and maintaining a strong hitting percentage of .378. Skinner once again led the way with five more kills, keeping the Bulldogs on their toes.
However, the Bulldogs weren’t about to roll over that easily. They made a comeback in the third set, garnering a solid hitting percentage of .316, securing a 25-21 win to extend the match to a fourth set.
But Texas was unfazed! In the fourth set, Skinner seized the moment and dominated with an astounding 9 kills, leading the Longhorns to close out the match with a final score of 25-17.
Looking Forward
As the dust settles from this thrilling contest, the Longhorns are set to enjoy a brief reprieve before heading back on the road. They’ll be facing off against Auburn on November 15 and then traveling to Alabama on November 17. With this performance, fans can’t help but feel excited about what’s next for Texas Volleyball!
In the end, this match was not just about the scores but rather a testament to teamwork, resilience, and the thrill of college volleyball. Longhorns fans couldn’t be prouder!
