The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels To Host Mississippi State In Midweek Match
11/1/2005 | Volleyball
Nov. 1, 2005
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss (7-17, 1-10 SEC) went on the road earlier in the season and suffered a setback to Mississippi State (11-9, 2-8 SEC), but the Rebels will get a chance at redemption on Wednesday, when Ole Miss will play host to the Bulldogs at 7 p.m. at the Gillom Sports Complex.
Both squads are looking for wins as the two teams fight down the home stretch for wins and position to get into the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
Ole Miss enters the match looking to take advantage of the home court and get back in the win column. The Rebels fell to a surging Kentucky team on Sunday, but have been returning to form on the offensive side of the ball down the home stretch.
Jaclyn Toohey leads the Rebels, as she has averaged double-digit kills each week of competition this season, and has only failed to reach double-digit kills in a Southeastern Conference match two times this season. She is joined by Nikki Hill, a senior who broke the 500 kill mark for her career this past weekend against the Wildcats. Both players average more than three kills per game.
Ashleigh Shear, who has posted almost 1,000 assists on the season, is expected to return to the lineup for the Rebels as setter after missing two matches due to injury. She has been replaced recently by the capable hands of freshman setter Rachel Kieckhaefer who posted 20 assists against Memphis and 19 assists against Kentucky.
The defense is led on the back row by freshman Nicole Mahan who continues to pace the Rebels in digs day after day. Most recently, Mahan posted 11 digs against the Wildcats. The front line is led by Tricia Agee and Emily Jones. Agee has posted 44 blocks on the season while Jones has put down 55 blocks to date.
Mississippi State has been led by Rachel Cooper, who is posting more than four kills per game and has posted 292 kills on the season. She is joined by Orshi Kriegel who is averaging almost 3.5 kills per game to help the Bulldog offense.
Eva Kriegel and Andrea Mead have split time at setter this season, as Kriegel leads the Bulldogs with 444 assists to date, while Mead has put up 353 assists.
The Mississippi State front line has been tough on the block with two players putting up 55 blocks each. Erin Seago and Nicole Palazzo have been leading a stifling defense that presents a challenge to opponents outside hitters. Megan Lukasek has posted 302 digs to lead the backrow defense for the Bulldogs.
Wednesday night will be Greek Night, with t-shirts being given to the first 200 people through the doors.
