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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
13-10, 2-8SEC
Florida
19-2, 9-1SEC
Rebels Give No. 9 Florida a Battle
10/28/2016 | Volleyball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - In front of a packed Lemerand Center Friday night, the Ole Miss volleyball team battled No. 9 Florida tough, before falling 3-0 (22-25, 23-25, 25-27).
When the two teams met back in September in Oxford, the Rebels won the opening set, but Florida took the next three, not allowing the Rebels to get into the 20s on their way to a 3-1 win. This time, Ole Miss had a chance in all three sets.
Florida broke a 6-6 tie early in set one to go up 10-7, but the Rebels pulled to within one twice. At 16-15 Florida used a 6-1 run for their largest lead of the set, 22-16. Ole Miss did not go away though, as the Rebels went on a 4-0 run and cut it to 22-20. Florida had set three points at 24-21, but the Rebels closed to within two on a kill by freshman Emily Stroup, before Florida's Rhamat Alhassan put it down to hand the Gators the set, 25-22.
In set two, Florida gained the early lead, 10-6, but the Rebels went on a 4-1 run to cut it to one, 11-10. The Gators answered with a 6-2 run to build their lead back out to five, 17-12, but the Rebels again closed to within 21-20. The Gators won three of the next four points to gain three set points at 24-21. Ole Miss saved two set points on a kill by junior outside hitter Kate Gibson and a ball handling error from Florida setter Allie Monserez. Alhassan's kill on the next rally sealed the set 25-23 and a 2-0 lead for Florida.
Coming out of the break, the Rebels stormed out to a 9-4 lead to begin set three, forcing a Florida timeout. Ole Miss later led 17-11, but Florida won three straight points to pull within three, 17-14, as the Rebels used their first timeout. The Gators used an 8-3 run to take their first lead in the set, 22-20, but Lexi Thompson's 13th kill followed by a tandem block from Stroup and junior middle blocker Taylor Alexander tied it at 22-22. Gibson came up with two big kills to keep the Rebels chances alive, one to tie it at 23 and then again for 24-24. Both teams traded points once again, but consecutive kills by Monserez and Carli Snyder handed the Gators the set 27-25 and the match 3-0.
Quick Hits
• The Rebels fell to 13-10 overall and 2-8 in the SEC, while Florida improved to 19-2 and 9-1 in league play.
• Junior outside hitter Kate Gibson posted a match-high 20 kills to all hitters, and added 8 digs. With 333 kills, Gibson now needs just 34 to set the single season record.
• Junior outside hitter Lexi Thompson notched her SEC-leading 15th double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs. It marked the 18th match for Thompson to post double-digit kills.
• With her 13 kills, Lexi Thompson went over 300 kills for the season (312), for the second time in her career.
• Lexi Thompson now has 905 career kills and needs just 23 to move up to sixth all time at Ole Miss.
• With her 11 digs, Thompson now has 825 in her career, which moved her up to eighth all time at Ole Miss.
• Freshman Emily Stroup earned her third start of the year and finished with seven kills, four digs and two blocks.
• Senior setter Aubrey Edie passed out 39 assists and also added 4 kills on a .333 clip and 6 digs.
• The Rebels hit .200 as a team, while Florida finished at .325. Both teams finished with 49 kills and 46 assists.
• Friday's contest marked the fourth match in SEC play that right side Kathryn Cather has missed. She ranks second in SEC matches only with a .457 hitting percentage.
Quoting Head Coach Steven McRoberts
"It was a great effort by our team. We had a chance to win all three sets. If we can bring this mindset and execution the rest of the season, I like our chances to win."
Up Next
The Rebels will continue on the road next weekend at LSU on Friday and Auburn on Sunday. Both matches will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
For more information on Ole Miss Volleyball, follow the Rebels on Twitter, @OleMissVB, on Facebook at OleMissVolleyball and on Instagram at OleMissVB. Also follow Coach McRoberts on Twitter, @CoachMcRoberts.
