The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Set To Host Magnolia Invitational This Weekend
9/9/2005 | Volleyball
Sept. 9, 2005
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole miss volleyball team (3-1) is set to attack the competition over the weekend as the Rebels host the fourth annual Magnolia Invitational at the Gillom Sports Complex on campus.
Participating in the tournament alongside Ole Miss will be the 17th-ranked Texas Longhorns, North Carolina State, Lamar and Lipscomb.
"We're excited to host this event once again, as a chance to showcase some exciting volleyball for our fans and the Oxford and Ole Miss communities," said head coach Joe Getzin. "We have some great teams coming in here and it should prove to be an outstanding weekend."
Ole Miss is coming off a 2-1 performance at the Houston Invitational that saw the Rebels get top-notch performances from several athletes as seniors stepped up to lead and freshmen emerged from the crowd.
Nikki Hill led all Rebels at the tournament as she averaged 20 kills a match and posted a career-high 28 kills in a 3-2 win over Arkansas State. Freshmen Emily Jones and Nicole Mahan both emerged as Jones stepped in at middle blocker, averaging 10 kills a match, while Mahan moved to the libero position and came up with an average of 10 digs a match, including a career-high 21 against Arkansas State.
Texas enters the tournament after a 1-1 performance at the Shamrock Invitational at Notre Dame, dropping a match with the host team after defeating Arizona State.
North Carolina State enters the weekend with a 3-1 record with the sole blemish coming at the hands of Fordham. Lamar and Lipsomb are both looking to get on track in the win column despite solid outings to open the season. Lamar enters with a 1-6 record, while Lipscomb is 0-4 after dropping tight matches with No. 9 Tennessee and UAB. The tournament will kick-off at 10 a.m. on Friday when North Carolina State will take on Lipscomb in the opening match. The Rebels will play twice on Friday, facing Lamar at noon and the nationally-ranked Longhorns at 7:30 p.m.
Admission is $5 dollars for a day-pass, $2 for high school students and younger, and Ole Miss students and faculty are admitted free with presentation of their school ID.
