Mobile, Ala. — Mississippi State volleyball opened its 2026 season with a straight-set victory over Georgia State at the Jaguar Classic, according to the team’s official report. The Bulldogs won the match 3-0, with set scores of 25-20, 25-21, and 25-22.
Head coach Julie Darty Dennis expressed pride in her team’s performance. “I’m proud of this team for earning our first win of the 2026 season. The dedication and focus they have shown leading up to this match is impressive,” she said. “It’s really fun to see them come together, play hard and get win number one.”
Georgia State took an early lead in the first set, building a 16-11 advantage before Mississippi State responded with a 9-0 run to take control. The Bulldogs maintained momentum through the second and third sets, which featured multiple lead changes. The Bulldogs’ balanced attack included eight players recording kills, led by Lindsey Mangelon with 12 and Bernardita Agilar with 10.
Mangelon also contributed defensively with one ace and two blocks, while Gha’Naye Whitfield-Moss and Olivia Stant each added five kills. Stant, making her collegiate indoor debut after playing beach volleyball for four seasons, brought energy to the court. Cayley Hanson facilitated the offense with 31 assists. On the defensive side, Ava Anderson set a career-high with seven blocks in just two sets. McKenna Yates led the team with 19 digs.
The Bulldogs will face South Alabama on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the second match of the tournament. The game will be streamed on ESPN+. Fans can follow updates on HailState.com and social media accounts under the handle ‘HailStateVB.’
