Tennessee faced several Mississippi State match points in the third set of tonight’s match, then fought all the way back to a 15-15 fifth set. But they fell just short of completing the comeback bid, losing 25-18, 25-23, 26-28, 15-25, 17-15. More details on Monday.

UPDATE: Morgahn Fingall put down 22 kills in the match, and was followed by Breana Runnels with 13, Lily Felts with 12, and Nicole Shanahan with 7. Danielle Mahaffey blocked 8 balls, Lily Felts a career high 6, and Ava Bell 5. Natalie Hayward had 50 assists along with 21 digs. Madison Bryant dug up 19 attacks, while Runnels added 14, Felts 10, and Paola Laborda 9.

Felts has moved into 8th place by herself in rally-scoring era career double double with 24. With two this weekend, Hayward enters the top ten with her 20th. Also adding two to her tally, Runnels moves into the top twenty with 9.

For just the 35th time in the rally-scoring era, UT did not serve up an ace in the match. That’s the 4th time it’s happened this season. Only once season did Tennessee play more matches without an ace in that time (2013, five aceless matches).

The Lady Vols had more kills, assists, blocks, and a better hitting percentage than the Bulldogs.

To update two stats mentioned on Saturday: For the third fourth time in 2021, Tennessee outhit their opponent in a loss. And in 6 of UT’s 7 7 of UT’s 8 losses this year they hit over .200. No Tennessee season since 2001 has had a better ratio than 2021 so far (though 2010 matches it).

MSU’s .165 hitting percentage was the 17th lowest by a winning opponent of UT’s in the rally-scoring era.