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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
12-5, 3-1
Georgia
11-6, 1-3
Volleyball Holds off Georgia 3-2
10/1/2017 | Volleyball
Box Score (PDF) | Highlights | Steven McRoberts Interview
OXFORD, Miss. - For the first time since 2010, the Ole Miss volleyball team is 3-1 in the SEC, after a 3-2 (22-25, 26-24, 25-17, 22-25, 15-12) win against Georgia here Sunday at the Gillom Sports Center.
Seniors Kate Gibson and Lexi Thompson and sophomores Emily Stroup and Nayo Warnell combined for 75.5 points to lead the way.
In their sixth five-setter of the year, the Rebels led 8-5 at the changeover. Ole Miss earned its first match point at 14-11 on a kill from Thompson, but Georgia won the next point to make it 14-12. The Rebels called timeout and then freshman setter Lauren Bars set up Gibson, who sent it back down for 15-12 and the win. Gibson, Stroup and Thompson combined for 10 kills in the fifth set.
The Rebels trailed the entire first set, never more than four points, but had a chance to tie it late, down 23-22. A service error followed by an attack error handed the Bulldogs the first set 25-22.
Ole Miss bounced back and came out of the gates in the second set for an 11-2 lead. Georgia went on a 13-5 run to pull within one, 16-15 forcing the Rebels to use their final timeout of the set. The Rebels answered with a 7-4 run to go up 23-19. Leading 24-22 Georgia tied it up 24-24, before Thompson put down one of her 16 kills to hand the Rebels their second set point, 25-24. On the ensuing play, a Georgia attack error handed the Rebels the set 26-24 and evened the match at 1-1. Stroup recorded 8 kills in the set to lead the way for the Rebels.
Tied 7-7 early in set three, Ole Miss went on a 5-1 run to pull ahead 12-8, as Georgia called timeout. The Rebels never lost their lead and went on to win the set 25-17 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Rebels looked as if they were going to close it out in four, leading 17-12 at one point. Following a timeout, the Bulldogs went on a 13-5 run to steal it 25-22 and tie the match at 2-2.
Quick Hits…
• Ole Miss improved to 12-5 overall, 3-1 in the SEC. The Rebels moved to 9-3 at home this year.
• The Rebels are 3-1 in the SEC for the first time since 2010
• Ole Miss has now won five in a row against Georgia and three straight in Oxford
• The Rebels improved to 4-2 this year in five-setters
• Sophomore Emily Stroup posted a double-double equaling her career-high of 21 kills on a .298 clip and adding 10 digs. She also had 3 blocks and 2 service aces. Stroup led all players with 25 points on the day.
• Senior Kate Gibson tallied her SEC-leading 12th double-double of 16 kills and 12 digs and hit .244 while also chipping in 2 blocks and a service ace.
• Senior Lexi Thompson threw in her 11th double-double with 16 kills on a .262 attack percentage and 11 digs. She also added 2 blocks and a service ace.
• Sophomore middle blocker Nayo Warnell tallied a career-high 11 blocks and added 7 kills on a .357 clip.
• Junior libero Caroline Adams posted 21 digs to lead the Rebels.
• Freshman Lauren Bars and sophomore Jordan Fate combined for 58 assists as the Rebels hit .253 to improve to 8-2 when hitting above .200.
Kate Gibson on the win...
"We had some ups and down in the match, but to come away with the win and then to hear Coach McRoberts say it's our best start in the SEC since 2010 is awesome. It's great to be part of the team that gets to change that."
Emily Stroup on her big day...
"I felt like my last couple of matches were not by best, and I knew this was a big match. I wanted to come out and give my best effort. It was a great team effort and everyone stepped up, especially all the outsides."
Up next…
The Rebels hit the road next weekend traveling to face Arkansas Oct. 6 and Missouri on Oct. 8.
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.
