The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Auburn
Lady Rebels Rally To Win In Five At Auburn
10/24/2003 | Volleyball
Oct. 24, 2003
Box Score
AUBURN, Ala. - The Ole Miss volleyball team rallied from a 2-1 deficit to take a thrilling 3-2 win over Auburn at the Student Activities Center Friday night, improving to 3-6 in the SEC. The Lady Rebels will travel to Tuscaloosa Sunday to face Alabama at 1:30 p.m.
The Lady Rebels improved to 3-1 in five-game matches this season, with all three wins coming against SEC opponents.
"This was a big win for us," head coach Joe Getzin said. "Megan McCune really stepped up for us tonight and Rachel played great in the fifth game. When you go on the road in the SEC it's not going to be easy, so I am proud of the team for hanging in there and battling to the end."
Junior outside hitter Elena Garcia led the Lady Rebels with a career-high 23 kills and 11 digs. Garcia notched her 800th career kill in the second game of the match. Sophomore middle blocker Rachel Refenes added 16 kills and six blocks, while freshman outside hitter Jaclyn Toohey finished with 10 kills and hit .368 on the night. Junior Megan McCune chipped in 11 kills, and freshman setter Jennifer McGowan had a career-night with 65 assists.
Game one was a close affair, with Ole Miss taking the early 5-2 lead. The Lady Rebels would increase their lead to six (15-9), but the Tigers would answer, getting to within one twice before tying the game at 24. Following a timeout, Ole Miss responded by winning three straight points to go up 27-24. Auburn won consecutive points to pull within 27-26. The two teams then traded points, but at 29-28,Refenes put the ball down to give the Lady Rebels the 30-28 win.
Auburn jumped out to a 13-6 lead in game two as Ole Miss used its first timeout. The Lady Rebels clawed their way back into the game and trailed 18-16 forcing Auburn to call timeout. The Lady Rebels would tie it up at 21-21. The Tigers then used a 4-1 run to go back up 25-22 as Ole Miss burned its final timeout. Ole Miss followed with a 4-1 run itself, to even the game at 26. The Tigers answered, winning the next two points to take a 28-26 lead. The Lady Rebels responded to win the next two points and pull even at 28. Auburn gained the final two points and the game 30-28 to even the match at 1-1.
Both teams battled back and forth in the early stages of game three. With the game tied at 14, Auburn won four straight points to take an 18-14 lead. Ole Miss then went on a 6-2 run to tie the game at 20. Auburn regained the lead at 22-20, and then the Lady Rebels won the next two points to even things up again. The two teams traded points and then Ole Miss went ahead 25-23, as Auburn called its first timeout. The Tigers responded by winning five in a row to build a three point lead (28-25). The Lady Rebels got to within 28-27, but Auburn won the final two points to take the game 30-27 and a 2-1 lead in the match.
Looking to extend the match to a deciding game, Ole Miss took an 8-4 lead to start game four. The Lady Rebels led 12-8, but Auburn came back to tie it at 14. The Tigers took the lead on the next point and held on to the lead until late in the game. Ole Miss trailed 28-25, but rallied to win five straight points to take game four 30-28 and extend the match to game five.
Ole Miss raced out to a 6-1 lead in game five forcing Auburn to call timeout. The Lady Rebels maintained their lead (8-4), but Auburn won three in a row to get within 8-7 as Ole Miss called its first timeout. With the Lady Rebels up 10-8, Auburn responded to win two straight and even the game at 10. The Tigers took their first lead in the game 12-11, but Ole Miss answered with two consecutive points to regain the lead, 13-12. Auburn won the next two points to gain match point at 14-13m but Ole Miss was not done. The Lady Rebels responded to win three straight points including Refenes' kill to clinch the game 16-14 and the match.
Auburn was led by Ashlee Johns, who tallied 23 kills and 14 digs. Brittney Diaz added 22 kills and hit .314 for the Tigers, who dropped to 9-12 overall and 0-9 in the SEC.
