Steven McRoberts Weekly Press Conference

Oct. 23, 2017

Opening statementâ€¦
"It was kind of a crazy week, and I didn't even realize it until after the match with LSU, that our match against LSU was the highest scoring match since volleyball went to 25-point sets in 2008. There were 241 points between the two teams. After three hours LSU outscored us by three points, we had two match points in the fifth set. It was just a heartbreaker. We got back at 1:30 a.m. It's one of those if you win that match you are bouncing off the stairs of the plane and if you lose your shoulders are shrugged down and you realize its 1:30 a.m. Then you have a quick turnaround to go on the road again on Sunday to play a team your university has never beat in volleyball. Kudos to our young ladies for the bounce-back win yesterday against Texas A&M. The first win ever against Texas A&M.

On the big win at Texas A&Mâ€¦
"Emily Stroup had an incredible match for us, 22 digs and hit for a very high percentage with 13 kills. Nayo Warnell, who is a Texas native, had 12 kills and hit for almost .500. Our defense played lights out the best we have ever played at Reed Arena."

On team bouncing back after lossesâ€¦
"I'm really proud of the team effort, these young ladies have really tried to get better every day and they aren't getting down. We have had four matches where we've had match points that we have lost, and if we get those we are right now talking about being on the inside looking out of the NCAA tournament, it's that close. I think it's five or six total points for our RPI to jump up another 15 spots."

On opportunities, aheadâ€¦
"We get two great opportunities coming up this week. Missouri who blasted us at their place a couple weeks ago, we get them at home. I am anticipating a much better match for us as we are playing better. I'm just really proud of the team and the fight we have in us right now. After Wednesday, I think we have really cleared the biggest hurdle of our schedule as far as playing a lot of matches in a short period of time. Then we have Arkansas Sunday. They are a 40 RPI team having a great season. We lost in five at their place. It's a match that we felt like we should have had, so we get another opportunity at them."

On what it will take to beat Missouri this timeâ€¦
"We need to serve better. They were in system a lot last time. They have two dynamic middles and a dynamic right side. When they get in system they are really good across the front row. Defense has been the key to us being in every match, and that was one where they were in system so much and every hitter was always available, it just made it impossible for us. They played as well as they could play. Early in sets we didn't play bad. We were right there with them, and then they would run away with it.

RebelsCalendar

Players Mentioned

Emily Stroup

Nayo Warnell

The University of Mississippi Athletics