The University of Mississippi Athletics
Volleyball Hosts No. 4 Florida
10/1/1999 | Volleyball
Oct. 1, 1999
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss volleyball team will host the Florida Gators, ranked fourth in the nation by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, in Oxford at the Women's Multi-Sport Complex on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
The Lady Rebels (7-6, 0-2 SEC) are coming off two tough 1-3 losses at Alabama and Auburn last weekend as they opened the Southeastern Conference schedule.
The Gators (11-2, 2-0 SEC) are riding a seven-game win streak, with their only two losses this season coming at the hands of undefeated and top ranked Pacific and eight ranked Nebraska.
Florida currently has a 56-game conference win streak and has only lost two regular season SEC matches since 1991, leading them to eight consecutive conference championships and four NCAA Final Four appearances.
"We have a great deal of respect for this Florida team," said Ole Miss head coach John Blair. "We are excited to be here and competing against such a highly ranked team. That will only enhance our effort on the floor against them."
The Lady Rebels will be looking for some consistency against the Gators. This has been a season of ups and downs for a team with only two senior starters, still learning to play to their potential.
"This has been a season of peaks and valleys," said Blair. "Overall we have been playing close to our potential, but we are still making progress and can be so much better. I think they are finally realizing their own potential as a team."
The Ole Miss-Florida rivalry is one of the oldest in the program's 25-year history, dating back to 1976, the first season of Lady Rebel volleyball. Sunday's match will mark the 27th meeting between them with Florida holding the 19-7 series advantage.
This will be the first meeting between these two team in the new women's complex, which became the home of the Lady Rebels in 1997. Ole Miss will be trying to break a 13-game losing streak against the Gators, since a 3-2 Ole Miss victory in Oxford in 1989.
The Lady Rebels will travel to Jackson on Monday to take on the Jackson State Lady Tigers at 6:00 p.m. This will be the 11th meeting with the Lady Tigers, with Ole Miss leading the series 9-1, but the first match-up since 1981.
