The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
14-1
South Carolina
11-2
Rebels Suffer First Loss of the Season
9/26/2014 | Volleyball
Box Score
COLUMBIA, S.C. - In their Southeastern Conference opener, the Ole Miss Volleyball team had a match point in the fourth set at 24-23, but the Gamecocks won the final three points of that set and then took the fifth on their way to a 3-2 win here Friday night at the Carolina Volleyball Center.
It marked the first loss of the season for the Rebels (14-1, 0-1) who travel to Gainesville, Florida Sunday to take on No. 10 Florida.
It seemed the Rebels were on their way to their first SEC-opening win in four years, as they gained the early momentum in the match going up 2-0. But the Gamecocks battled back after the break to win the third set and then erased the match point in the fourth to force the deciding set.
Junior middle blocker Nakeyta Clair led the Rebels, equaling her career-high 20 kills and hit .395. She also had four blocks. In her first start, freshman Taylor Alexander posted nine kills on a .375 attack percentage and also tallied four blocks. Freshman Lexi Thompson posted 16 digs.
The Rebels took control of the first set to go up 21-14. The Gamecocks cut it to 23-21, but back-to-back kills from sophomore Melanie Crow sealed the set 25-22.
In the second set, both teams battled back and forth to a 10-10 tie, but the Rebels went on a 5-0 run to lead 15-10. They maintained their lead and went on to take the set 25-19.
South Carolina led the third set 18-15, but the Rebels tied it up at 19 all. The Gamecocks would however, win six of the next eight points to win it 25-21.
The Rebels got off to a good start in the fourth set taking a 4-0 lead, but the Gamecocks kept battling and gained a 13-9 lead. Ole Miss tied it up at 18 and then two went back and forth before the Rebels gained a match point, 24-23. South Carolina answered, winning the final three points for the 26-24 win, setting up the final set.
For more information on Ole Miss Volleyball, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissVB, on Facebook at OleMissVolleyball and on Instagram at OleMissVB.
| Ole Miss (14-1, 0-1 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 12 |
| South Carolina (11-2, 1-0) | 22 | 19 | 25 | 26 | 15 |
