The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Alabama
Volleyball Falls To Alabama 3-1 Sunday
10/26/2003 | Volleyball
Oct. 26, 2003
Box Score
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - After taking game one and leading big in game two, the Ole Miss volleyball team fell short, losing to Alabama 3-1 (30-28, 30-32, 23-30, 23-30) at the CAVE Sunday afternoon.
Sophomore middle blocker Rachel Refenes led the Lady Rebels with 12 kills. Freshman Kristen Carroll finished with 10 kills on 20 attempts for a .350 hitting percentage and added five blocks. Junior Elena Garcia had eight kills and 11 digs, and freshman Jillian Ohrman chipped in six kills and four blocks in the loss.
Ole Miss (5-20, 3-7) fell behind 6-0 early in game one and had to call timeout. The Crimson Tide would lead 15-9, but the Lady Rebels would battle back, going on a 10-4 run to even the game at 19. The game stayed tight with Alabama (11-11, 5-5) holding a narrow two-point advantage (27-25) late. The Lady Rebels answered, winning the next two points to tie it again at 27. Ole Miss then won two consecutive points to gain a game point at 29-27. Alabama won the next point to hold off the game, and then Ohrman put it down on the next point to give the Lady Rebels game one, 30-28.
The Lady Rebels carried the momentum of game one into game two, taking the early 7-4 lead and forcing an Alabama timeout. Ole Miss increased their lead to seven (13-6) as Alabama used its final timeout. The Crimson Tide would get to within two (18-16), but Ole Miss went on a 5-1 run to extend its lead back to six (23-17). With Ole Miss up 27-22, the Crimson Tide won two consecutive points to pull within 27-24, as the Lady Rebels called their first timeout of the game. The two teams then traded points, until Bama won two straight to get within one (28-27). Ole Miss won the next point to take a 29-27 advantage. The Crimson Tide held off game point, and then the Lady Rebels gained another game point. At 29-28, the ball sailed just wide for the Lady Rebels, tying the match at 29. Following an Ole Miss timeout, Alabama won the next point to get their first game point. The Lady Rebels answered, but then a service error by Ole Miss gave Bama their second game point, which they converted to win the game 32-30.
Alabama jumped out to a 7-2 lead in game three, forcing Ole Miss to call timeout. Ole Miss came back to tie it at 10, but a 7-1 run by the Crimson Tide made it 17-11 Alabama, as Lady Rebel head coach Joe Getzin had to use the team's final timeout. Ole Miss went on an 8-4 run to get within 21-19. Trailing by two (22-20), the Lady Rebels saw the Crimson Tide go on a 6-0 run to extend their lead to 26-20. Alabama would go on to close out the game 30-23 and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Lady Rebels, looking to extend the match, stayed close in game four. After being down by two early, the Lady Rebels fell behind 12-7 and called timeout. Following the timeout, Ole Miss won four of the next five points to get within 13-11, as Alabama called timeout. The Lady Rebels won the next two points to get even. The two teams then battled back and forth until at 20-20, Alabama went on a 4-0 run to go up 24-20. A 6-3 run ended the game 30-23 for the Crimson Tide and gave them the match.
Junior outside hitter Erin Heffner led Alabama with 23 kills. Senior setter Erin Price hit .444 with nine kills, eight digs and 52 assists.
The Lady Rebels will continue their five-match road swing with matches at Arkansas and LSU next weekend.
