The University of Tennessee welcomes thousands of alumni to Knoxville this weekend for homecoming.

The Tennessee Lady Vol Volleyball team gave Mississippi State a different kind of welcome. The Lady Vols disposed of the Bulldogs in three sets, 25-13, 25-14, and 25-19 inside Thompson-Boling Arena.

We've been playing a lot of tight ones lately, so it's nice to have a little breathing room. Rob Patrick, Lady Vols Volleyball team head coachThe only time Mississippi State led was in the first set with a 2-1 lead. Head coach Rob Patrick was glad to see his team play well and win convincingly.

"We've been playing a lot of tight ones lately, so it's nice to have a little breathing room," Patrick said.

The Lady Vols battled close with the Bulldogs in the first set to a 9-7 Lady Vol lead. Then junior Leah Hinkey and sophomore Kayla Jeter got involved. They combined for seven kills to extend their lead 24-13. Senior Kylie Marshall took a perfect set from junior Nikki Fowler and slammed it down the line as the Lady Vols took the first set.

Set two started off looking similar to the first set as the Lady Vols took another 9-7 lead. Fowler then strung together four kills as the Lady Vols took a 16-10 lead. Mississippi state tallied up eight errors in the second set as the Lady Vols went on to win 25-14.

"I thought we controlled the ball real well. Our serving took them out of their offense a little bit, and allow us to defend their one hitter they had to get the ball to," Coach Patrick said.

The Lady Vols finished off the match in the third set. They took a 17-10 lead before Mississippi State tried to rally back as they cut the lead to 17-14. The Lady Vols finished the visitors off 25-19 on a Mississippi State service error.

Fowler led the Vols with a double double, 10 kills and 16 digs. Marshall added nine digs and seven kills. The Lady Vols return to Thompson Boiling Arena Sunday when take on Alabama at 1:30 p.m.