The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Remain Unbeaten at Home
10/12/2014 | Volleyball, Blog
With a 3-0 win over intrastate rival Mississippi State, Ole Miss is off to its best start since 1989, when the Rebels started the season 17-2 and finished the season 30-12. Ole Miss also improved to 9-0 at home this season, setting a school record with its ninth consecutive home win in the process.
Through nine matches at home, the Rebels have dropped just two sets. On the road, however, Ole Miss has dropped three straight matches, including 3-0 losses in its last two road matches at Florida and Arkansas.
The Rebels have more road opportunities ahead, as they play five of their next seven matches on the road, including a road swing at Auburn and Alabama next weekend.
"We had a match point against South Carolina to win that one and didn't take care of it," head coach Steven McRoberts said. "The only two, Florida and Arkansas, they just flat-out beat us. We didn't play very well, and they played well, and they took it to us.
"We'll have two more opportunities this weekend. I hope somewhere along the way we can figure out why we play so well at home and not so well on the road. Maybe that answer will come when some of those teams come to our place, and we will see if that's really the case."
Against Mississippi State, Ole Miss hit .402 for the match, its best mark in SEC play and second-best mark overall this season. The Rebels also committed just 10 errors, its lowest mark in SEC play and its fourth-lowest mark overall this season
Sophomore Melanie Crow led the way for the Rebels, hitting a team-high .552 and putting down a game-high 17 kills, while freshman Taylor Alexander hit .538 and added eight kills.
"Playing at home, you're comfortable because you have played in this gym every single day for two years," Crow said. "The fans are awesome, and we had a great crowd today. On the road, we have to keep our energy up. We're playing against loud fans that are always against us, so we have to keep our confidence up and keep our energy up."
