The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
14-11, 3-9
Auburn
14-12, 8-5
Rebels Drop Heartbreaker at Auburn
11/6/2016 | Volleyball
Box Score (PDF)
AUBURN, Ala. - For the second time this season, Ole Miss and Auburn went five sets in volleyball, as the Rebels rallied to force a fifth set and led by four, before the Tigers came back to take the match 3-2 (25-23, 16-25, 19-25, 25-21, 13-15) here Sunday at Auburn Arena.
It looked like the Rebels had the momentum on their side after rallying from an early deficit in set four and getting out to a 11-7 lead in set five. But the Tigers' Breanna McIlroy had four of her team-high 18 kills to aid in an 8-2 run by Auburn to close out the fifth set 15-13.
Ole Miss won the first point of the match, but Auburn went on a 6-0 run to go up 6-1. They later led 21-17, but the Rebels used a 6-1 run to take their first lead in the match since the opening point, 23-22. After Auburn tied it up, junior outside hitter Kate Gibson sent one down the left side to give the Rebels set point, 24-23. Freshman defensive specialist Nicole Purcell then aced the Tigers to hand Ole Miss the set 25-23 and the early momentum.
Set two went back and forth to 12-12, but then Auburn went on a 13-4 run to close out the Rebels 25-16 to even the match at 1-1. Ole Miss hit just .075 in the set and sided out at 58 percent, compared to Auburn, who hit .314 and sided out at 88 percent.
Tough serving by Auburn put the Rebels in a 4-0 hole early in set three, but the Rebels pulled to within two, before service errors and attack errors handed the Tigers a 10-5 lead, forcing head coach Steven McRoberts to call timeout. The Rebels never got closer than five, as Auburn closed out the set 25-19 and took a 2-1 lead overall.
Auburn raced out to an 8-3 lead in set four, but the Rebels went on a 9-4 run to tie it at 12, including five combined kills by Lexi Thompson and Gibson. The two teams then traded points until the Rebels took a 19-17 lead. They went up 22-18 forcing Auburn to call timeout. Auburn won the next two points and then Ole Miss called a timeout leading 22-20. The Rebels won three of the final four points including the clincher by Thompson to take it 25-21 and set up the final outcome.
Quick Hits
• The Rebels fell to 14-11 overall and 3-9 in the SEC, while Auburn improved to 14-12 an 8-5.
• The Rebels are now 5-4 in five-set matches this year.
• Junior Lexi Thompson recorded her 16th double-double of the season with 18 kills and 10 digs. With her 18 kills she moved up to sixth all-time at Ole Miss with 937 kills.
• Junior Kate Gibson posted her 12th double-double of the year with 16 kills and 14 digs.
• Kate Gibson recorded her 1,000th career kill and now has 1,010. That includes 380 kills at Memphis.
• Kate Gibson is closing in on the single-season kills record now with 360 kills. She needs just seven to break the record set by Rebel All-American Nakeyta Clair in 2014.
• Senior Aubrey Edie posted her ninth double-double of the year with 47 assists and 15 digs.
• Freshman Emily Stroup tied her career high with 9 kills.
• Freshman Nayo Warnell tallied 7kills on a .357 clip and added 4 blocks.
• Five players tallied double-digit digs with sophomore Caroline Adams tallying 18 and freshman Nicole Purcell 10.
• The Rebels hit just .164 as a team, while Auburn finished at .215. Kills, assists, digs and blocks were pretty even all within one or two of each other.
Up Next
The Rebels return home to host Tennessee and Kentucky next weekend at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. Friday's Kids Day match against Tennessee begins at 11 a.m.
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.
