| |
 |
Mississippi State 3, USF 2
Box Score PDF | Chat Transcript
Postgame Video: Claire Lessinger
The Saluki Invitational
Carbondale, Ill.
Fri. Sept 10- Sat. Sept 11
USF, Southern Illinois, Southeast Missouri and Mississippi State
|
|
|
|
|
Scoreboard
|
|
Team
|
Set 1
|
Set 2
|
Set 3
|
Set 4
|
Set 5
|
Final
|
|
USF
|
20
|
25
|
25
|
16
|
8
|
2
|
|
Miss. St.
|
25
|
20
|
23
|
25
|
15
|
3
|
|
Top Performers
|
|
USF
|
|
Player
|
Kills
|
Hit %
|
Ast.
|
Digs
|
Points
|
|
|
19 |
.324
|
0
|
3
|
--
|
|
|
4
|
.250
|
57
|
7
|
-- |
|
Miss. St.
|
|
Player
|
Kills
|
Hit %
|
Ast.
|
Digs
|
Points
|
|
Paris Perret
|
4
|
.364
|
39
|
6
|
--
|
|
Caitlin Rance
|
14
|
.256
|
2
|
11
|
--
|
|
Volleyball Central
|
|
GoUSFBulls.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gameday Links
|
|
Watch Live
|
|
|
|
Gamenotes
|
|
Social Media
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interactive Guide
|
|
|
|
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The University of South Florida volleyball team got an outstanding effort once again from senior Allie Boaz, but it was not enough, as the Bulls fell to Mississippi State 3-2 in five sets.
The Bulls won their opening match of the Saluki Invitational on Friday night in straight sets against Southeast Missouri, but they could not keep their momentum going on Saturday, as they dropped sets four and five to the Bulldogs to fall to 1-1 in the tournament.
USF got another stellar performance out of Boaz who recorded 19 kills and hit .324 for the match, after recording 10 kills in Friday's win over Southeast Missouri. Boaz, a Belleville, Ill. native returns to Illinois for the first time in her college career, and has impressed the hometown faithful, that have came out to see her.
J'beria Davis had another spectacular game as well on Saturday, recording a match high 22 kills and hitting .229 from her outside hitter position. The sophomore has amassed 32 kills through two matches in the Saluki Invitational.
Senior setter Mariana Thon recorded 57 assists in the five set match for the Bulls, while also serving as an attack threat recording four kills on the day.
Andrea Rodriguez Gomez had a team high three block assists to go along with a solo block and four kills.
Kimika Rozier came off the bench in the second set to give the Bulls a spark, picking up eight kills in the match.
The Bulls as a team, outhit the Bulldogs .214 to .193.
USF started the match out well. Despite dropping the opening set 25-20, the Bulls hit .333 as a team in the opening frame. The Bulls then hit their stride in the second set, taking it from Mississippi State 25-20 and hitting .233 as a team.
The Bulls looked to be in control during the third set, as Boaz and Thon paced the Bulls to a close 25-23 set victory thanks to 17 kills as a team and a hitting percentage of .448.
That is where things started to go wrong for USF.
The Bulls came out flat in the fourth set, after the Bulldogs adjusted to the Bulls' outside hitters, and USf hit just .029 as a team, falling 25-16.
With their backs against the wall in the final set, USF could not claw their way back, as powerful attacks from the Bulldogs was too much, giving Mississippi State the final frame 15-8, and the match 3-2.
The Bulls return to action tonight, as they play host school Southern Illinois in the tournament finale at 8 p.m. Live stats, a chat and a live stream will all be available for the match against SIU.
