The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Arkansas
Lady Rebel Volleyball Loses Heartbreaker To Arkansas, 3-2
10/28/2000 | Volleyball
Oct. 28, 2000
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss volleyball team claimed two quick wins over Arkansas before surrendering the last three games to fall prey to the Lady Razorbacks 9-15, 5-15, 15-13, 16-14, 15-12. The loss drops the Lady Rebels' record back to .500 at 13-13 overall and 3-8 in SEC play, while Arkansas improves to 10-11overall and 6-5 in conference play.
The Lady Rebels got off to a great start by jumping out to quick leads in both games one and two. In game three the Lady Rebels again jumped out to an 11-6 lead before letting Arkansas inch their way back into the game and match. The Lady Razorbacks closed out game three by scoring five straight points to pull ahead 14-12 and then held on for the 15-13 win.
Riding their momentum from game three, Arkansas struck early in game four, pulling out to an 8-2 lead and then claimed the hard-fought 16-14 win over the Lady Rebels. Ole Miss took a 10-7 lead in game five before surrendering five straight points to drop the game and match.
"Even though we did not win the match," said senior Renata Nowacki, "we are playing with a lot more confidence out there. We know we are playing better as a team and that gives us a better chance to get some wins."
Despite the loss, senior Kira Zschau had an outstanding evening. The senior from Dunedin, Fla., again set new career-highs in kills with 31 and digs with 26. Zschau's 31 kill-performance moves her into sole possession of second place on the Ole Miss individual match kill chart.
Junior Jaime Burns contributed 18 kills and 14 digs and sophomore Erin Newsom tallied 13 kills,12 digs and eight blocks. Sophomore Abby Hollander recorded 10 digs and four blocks and junior Leigh Rittiner had nine kills and three blocks.
Senior Renata Nowacki collected 69 assists and 23 digs for Ole Miss. Sophomore Erica Tricco registered 11 digs and freshman Jade Polonich added 10.
The Lady Rebels will host rival Mississippi State on Friday at 7 p.m. Ole Miss will be honoring Zschau and Nowacki in senior night festivities.
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