LAFAYETTE, La. — UT Arlington fell to Mississippi State, 3-0, on Saturday morning to close the Ragin' Cajuns Classic, dropping the match 25-10, 25-12, 25-20.
Emilee Sikora led the Mavericks with eight kills, while UTA fought hard throughout the third set before the Bulldogs closed out the match.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first set began with Mississippi State jumping out to a 3-0 lead following a UTA attack error and two service aces. The Mavericks got on the board after a service error by MSU's McKenna Yates, followed by kills from
Emilee Sikora and
Sophia Krichev, cutting the deficit to 6-3. The Bulldogs extended their lead to 8-5 after two kills from Paloma Routaboul and Bernadita Aguilar, along with three UTA attack errors. Mississippi State reached 15 first following a 3-0 run, triggering the media timeout with the Bulldogs leading 15-7. After the media timeout, the Mavericks and the Bulldogs traded kills up until 18-9, with MSU leading. The Bulldogs ultimately pulled away after successful kills and attack errors from the Mavericks, 25-10.
UTA opened the second set with a kill from
Karisa Martin, but Mississippi State responded with three straight points, including kills from Yates and Ava Anderson. The Mavericks answered back with back-to-back kills from
Camryn McMinn and
Emilee Sikora to tie the set at 3-3. The Bulldogs regained the lead after a UTA service error and kills from Aguilar, followed by a kill from Yates to make it 5-3. MS State added another point on a service ace from Cayley Hanson before UTA called a timeout with the Bulldogs leading, 6-3. Three errors from UTA allowed the Bulldogs to take control with a seven-point lead at 10-3. Martin answered again for UTA with two kills to bring the score to 5-11. The Mavericks and Bulldogs went back-and-forth, trading kills and attack errors but a kill from MSU's Anderson brought the score to 15-7, prompting a media timeout. UTA responded well with kills from Sikora and
Mazi Smith, while capitalizing on a few mistakes from the Bulldogs, but MSU took control, taking set two at 25-12.
The Mavericks began the third set strong with kills from Sikora and McMinn, capitalizing on Mississippi State errors to build a 4-0 run and take a 6-2 lead. However, the Bulldogs responded with a run of their own, bringing the score within one with UTA still leading, 7-6. The Mavs began to push the envelope as they built their lead off strong kills from
Megan Dougherty,
Hana Aiana and McMinn, 13-10. After a kill from Sikora and a MSU attack error, the Mavericks continued to own the lead at 15-12, heading into the media timeout. UTA took a timeout after a Maverick attack error, putting the Bulldogs within one at 15-16. Mississippi State started to gain control back after a 4-0 scoring run and taking the lead at 19-17. Ultimately, the Bulldogs pulled away due to UTA attack and service errors with multiple Bulldog kills, 25-20.
Game Notes
- Emilee Sikora led the Mavericks with eight kills, while adding 11 digs and two blocks.
- Isabella Camacho paced UTA with 10 assists.
- Camryn McMinn recorded four kills and three assists.
- Karisa Martin added four kills for UTA.
- Dixie Nessl contributed three blocks.
- UTA had three players record double-digit attacks: Sikora (27), McMinn (19) and Martin (19).
UP NEXT
The Mavericks will begin inaugural United Athletic Conference play on Tuesday, Sept. 22, traveling to Stephenville to face fellow former WAC member Tarleton State.
--#BuckEm--
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