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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
8-4
South Alabama
5-4
Volleyball Falls to South Alabama in Five
9/15/2017 | Volleyball
Box Score (PDF)
OXFORD, Miss. -- The first of two matches in two days between Ole Miss and South Alabama went to overtime, with the Rebels holding two match points, before consecutive attack errors handed the Jaguars the set and the match 3-2 (25-19, 19-25, 14-25, 25-10, 16-18) Friday at the Gillom Sports Center.
Both teams went back and forth in the final frame to 8-8, before South Alabama ahead by two 10-8, on an Ole Miss attack error. Sophomore right side Emily Stroup stepped up with two big kills to get the Rebels within 13-12, but USA's Hannah Harris notched one of her 7 kills on the night to deliver the Jaguars' their first match point at 14-12. Senior outside hitter Lexi Thompson answered with a huge kill and then an attack error followed by a ball handling error by South Alabama shifted the momentum to the Rebels, as they garnered their first match point, 15-14. The Jaguars tied it up and then sophomore middle blocker Nayo Warnell put one down to hand Ole Miss its second match point at 16-15. The Jaguars tied it again and then back-to-back attack errors by the Rebels sealed it for South Alabama, 18-16.
The two teams were tied 12-12 midway through set one and then the Rebels went on a 13-7 run to close out South Alabama 25-19. Senior outside hitter Kate Gibson paved the way with 8 kills on a .667 clip.
With the second set tied 12-12, South Alabama reversed what Ole Miss did to them in the first set, using a 13-7 run to take it 25-19. The Rebels had 9 errors in the set and hit just .038 compared to .316 in the first set.
South Alabama broke open the third set to go up 16-11 midway through. The Rebels never got closer than four, as the Jaguars closed out the set 25-14 for a 2-1 lead in the match. South Alabama hit .333 to the Rebels .067.
Looking to extend the match, the Rebels hit .409 in set four and held the Jaguars to -.200 to power past them 25-14 and force the decisive set.
Quick Hits...
• Ole Miss dropped to 8-4 on the year and saw their four-match win streak come to an end.
• The Rebels are now 3-2 on the year in five-set matches.
• Ole Miss still leads the all-time series with South Alabama 6-3.
• Senior Lexi Thompson posted her SEC-leading 9th double-double of the season with 14 kills and 12 digs. She also had 5 block assists.
• With 14 kills, Thompson needs just 4 to set the career record in the rally era at Ole Miss.
• Senior Kate Gibson posted her 8th double-double of the year with 17 kills and 12 digs.
• Sophomore Emily Stroup recorded 15 kills on a .303 clip and added 8 digs, 4 assists and 2 block assists.
• Junior middle blocker Delaney Gallagher posted 2 solo blocks and 6 block assists in her second straight start.
• Sophomore middle blocker Nayo Warnell entered the match late in the second set and finished with 8 kills and only 1 error on a .538 attack percentage.
• Freshman Lauren Bars (25) and sophomore Jordan Fate (26) combined for 51 assists.
Next up...
Ole Miss and South Alabama will play again Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the Gillom Sports Center in the final non-conference match for the Rebels before SEC play begins next weekend.
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.
