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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Overcome 0-2 Deficit to Remain Undefeated
9/4/2016 | Volleyball
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OXFORD, Miss. - It's not how you start it's how you finish. The Ole Miss volleyball team survived an 0-2 deficit against NC State to rally for a 3-2 win (24-26, 13-25, 25-16, 25-23, 17-15) in the championship match of the Rebel Classic in front of another great crowd (650) Saturday night at The Pavilion at Ole Miss.
Not lost in the win, senior setter Aubrey Edie set the school record for assists on her way to earning MVP honors. Sophomore right side Kathryn Cather and junior middle blocker Taylor Alexander joined her on the all-tournament team.
NC State Match
After a shutout win against McNeese State earlier in the day, the Rebels were looking to finish the tournament strong, and what an ending it was. Their second five-setter in a week, had a bit more drama, as this time they had to come from behind to win it to remain undefeated at 6-0.
With momentum on their side after capturing the third and fourth sets to even up the match, the Rebels fell behind 9-4 to start the final set. Following a timeout by head coach Steven McRoberts, the Rebels went on a 7-2 run to tie it at 11. Both teams traded points for 12-12 and then consecutive kills from Kathryn Cather and Lexi Thompson gave the Rebels their first match points, 14-12. An attack error from Ole Miss followed by a kill from NC State evened it up at 14. The Rebels gained another match point on an attack error from the Wolfpack, but NC State answered to tie it again at 15. NC State had 10 service errors on the night, and the final one came on the crucial next point to give the Rebels their fourth match point, 16-15. Edie and freshman middle blocker Nayo Warnell combined for the block on NC State's Julia Brown to cap the rally and send the crowd into a chorus of Hotty Toddy.
Ole Miss got off to a great start in the match, leading the opening set 6-1. The Rebels would eventually hold two set points at 24-22, but NC State won the final four points, including a couple of attack errors from the Rebels to take the set 26-24.
Things didn't go much better for the Rebels in set two, as the Wolfpack jumped out to a big lead and went on to win it 25-13.
After the break, Ole Miss came out and hit .265 in set three, while NC State hit -.030, as the Rebels won it 25-16 to extend the match to a fourth set. Neither team led by more than three in set four. Junior outside hitter Lexi Thompson stepped up with two of her team-high 15 kills late to hand the Rebels the set 25-23 and send it to the exciting finish.
"We talked about getting back to playing Ole Miss volleyball, playing with confidence and believing we could win and understanding we had a great opportunity to win the first set. We knew if we could just get one set, it would totally change the momentum, which it did."
McNeese State Match
Ole Miss never let McNeese State get into the 20s in any of the sets on their way to a 3-0 win (25-18, 25-17, 25-12) earlier in the day. Three players notched double-digit kills led by Thompson, who had 14 on a .414 clip and also added 11 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Alexander got in on the action in a big way, hitting .692 with 10 kills and only one error. Reigning SEC Player of the Week Kate Gibson recorded 11 kills.
Quick Hits
รขโฌยข This marked the 10th consecutive regular season tournament title for the Rebels.
รขโฌยข Ole Miss improved to 34-1 in non-conference matches under head coach Steven McRoberts.
รขโฌยข Senior setter Aubrey Edie set the school record for career assists, which stands at 3,807 after the NC State match. She was named the tournament MVP. Edie also posted 4 kills on a .333 clip and 6 digs and 3 blocks, including the big one at the end.
รขโฌยข Sophomore right side Kathryn Cather and junior middle blocker Taylor Alexander joined Edie on the All-Tournament Team. Cather posted 13 kills and 4 blocks in the win against NC State and finished the weekend with 33 kills on a .339 pct. Alexander finished the weekend with 28 kills and hit .500.
รขโฌยข Junior outside hitter Lexi Thompson secured her third straight double-double and fifth in six matches with 15 kills and 14 digs. Against McNeese State she posted 14 kills and 11 digs and hit .414.
รขโฌยข Freshman setter Jordan Fate made her debut as a Rebel entering in the second set against NC State.
รขโฌยข Sophomore Audrey Fischer saw her first action of the season Saturday, earning a kill against McNeese State and a block assist vs. NC State
รขโฌยข The Rebels improved to 3-1 all-time against NC State and 3-0 vs. McNeese State.
Next up
Ole Miss welcomes Arkansas State to The Pavilion Tuesday for a 6 p.m. match, and then heads to Nashville, Tennessee Sept. 9-10 for the Lipscomb Invitational.
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.
