The University of Mississippi Athletics
Kieckhaefer's Triple-Double Helps Rebels Grab 3-2 Win
11/29/2008 | Volleyball
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. The Rebels closed out the 2008 season on a high note Saturday, as a triple-double from senior setter Rachel Kieckhaefer led an overall team performance to push Ole Miss (14-15, 10-10 SEC) past Arkansas (7-23, 4-16 SEC) by a score of 3-2 (27-25, 23-35, 19-25, 25-19, 15-5).
Kieckhaefer closed out her career with an outstanding performance, tallying a triple-double with 45 assists, 21 digs and 10 blocks (3 BS, 7 BA) to help the Rebels secure the win. Kieckhaefer also added six kills and hit .462 for the match.
Freshman middle blocker Regina Thomas hit .483 and put down 16 kills and seven blocks to go along with 13 kills from freshman outside hitter Katie Norris to help lead the Rebels to the win. Sophomore middle blocker Miranda Kitts added 10 kills on the afternoon to help lead the offense.
Senior Allison Weber came up with 20 digs on the night to go along with 17 digs from freshman Morgan Springer and 13 digs from Emily Kvitle.
"I think it was a great way to send the seniors out," said Ole Miss head coach Joe Getzin. "Rachel definitely played her best match of the year. It's fitting that she played her best in her final match. We passed the ball well which enabled us to get the ball to our middles and that kept Arkansas on its heels.
"We have some very capable freshmen in the program right now and they showed they have the ability to continue the success that we've had."
The win marked the third straight season Ole Miss has posted a .500 or better record in SEC play and the 10 conference wins is the second most for the Rebels since the SEC began tracking records in 1984 and tied the mark set by the 2006 squad.
The first set was a hard-fought contest between the two teams as Arkansas pulled out to an early lead only to see the Rebels put together a run and surge ahead 9-6. The Razorbacks strung together a run of their own from there, pushing back into the lead at 14-13 and held the advantage before pushing out to a 24-22 lead. Ole Miss fought off back-to-back set points before taking the set 27-25.
The Rebels took the early lead in the second set only to see Arkansas erase the advantage with an 8-1 run to take a 13-7 lead. Ole Miss chipped away at the lead, reclaiming the lead 17-16 only to see the Razorbacks again put together a run to claim the second set 25-23.
Ole Miss again jumped out to an early lead on the Razorbacks in the third set as the Rebels moved ahead 5-2 only to see Arkansas put together a run that quickly erased the lead and knot the score at nine. The Rebels put together another run to reclaim the lead, but once again Arkansas tied things at 15. The Razorbacks pushed in front of the Rebels from there and never trailed again as Arkansas claimed the third set 25-19.
The two squads traded scores early in the fourth set before the Rebels pushed ahead to a five-point lead at 12-7. Ole Miss held to the advantage the rest of the way out, seeing Razorback come no closer than three points, as the Rebels picked up the fourth set 25-19 and evened the match at two sets apiece.
Ole Miss dominated the fifth set, pushing out to an 8-2 lead right out of the gates before closing out the match with a 15-5 win in set five.
Kieckhaefer closed out her career with an outstanding performance, tallying a triple-double with 45 assists, 21 digs and 10 blocks (3 BS, 7 BA) to help the Rebels secure the win. Kieckhaefer also added six kills and hit .462 for the match.
Freshman middle blocker Regina Thomas hit .483 and put down 16 kills and seven blocks to go along with 13 kills from freshman outside hitter Katie Norris to help lead the Rebels to the win. Sophomore middle blocker Miranda Kitts added 10 kills on the afternoon to help lead the offense.
Senior Allison Weber came up with 20 digs on the night to go along with 17 digs from freshman Morgan Springer and 13 digs from Emily Kvitle.
"I think it was a great way to send the seniors out," said Ole Miss head coach Joe Getzin. "Rachel definitely played her best match of the year. It's fitting that she played her best in her final match. We passed the ball well which enabled us to get the ball to our middles and that kept Arkansas on its heels.
"We have some very capable freshmen in the program right now and they showed they have the ability to continue the success that we've had."
The win marked the third straight season Ole Miss has posted a .500 or better record in SEC play and the 10 conference wins is the second most for the Rebels since the SEC began tracking records in 1984 and tied the mark set by the 2006 squad.
The first set was a hard-fought contest between the two teams as Arkansas pulled out to an early lead only to see the Rebels put together a run and surge ahead 9-6. The Razorbacks strung together a run of their own from there, pushing back into the lead at 14-13 and held the advantage before pushing out to a 24-22 lead. Ole Miss fought off back-to-back set points before taking the set 27-25.
The Rebels took the early lead in the second set only to see Arkansas erase the advantage with an 8-1 run to take a 13-7 lead. Ole Miss chipped away at the lead, reclaiming the lead 17-16 only to see the Razorbacks again put together a run to claim the second set 25-23.
Ole Miss again jumped out to an early lead on the Razorbacks in the third set as the Rebels moved ahead 5-2 only to see Arkansas put together a run that quickly erased the lead and knot the score at nine. The Rebels put together another run to reclaim the lead, but once again Arkansas tied things at 15. The Razorbacks pushed in front of the Rebels from there and never trailed again as Arkansas claimed the third set 25-19.
The two squads traded scores early in the fourth set before the Rebels pushed ahead to a five-point lead at 12-7. Ole Miss held to the advantage the rest of the way out, seeing Razorback come no closer than three points, as the Rebels picked up the fourth set 25-19 and evened the match at two sets apiece.
Ole Miss dominated the fifth set, pushing out to an 8-2 lead right out of the gates before closing out the match with a 15-5 win in set five.
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HIGHLIGHTS: Volleyball at South Carolina (11-12-25)
Wednesday, November 12
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Sunday, November 02