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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
9-5, 0-1
Auburn
8-2, 1-0
Volleyball Comes up Short against Auburn
9/22/2017 | Volleyball
Box Score (PDF) | Highlights | Coach McRoberts Interview
OXFORD, Miss. - The previous three matches against Auburn went five, and the Ole Miss volleyball team had a chance to force a fifth here Friday night at the Gillom Sports Center in front of a big crowd (913) in the team's Southeastern Conference opener.
Unfortunately, the Rebels (9-5, 0-1) couldn't close out the Tigers in the fourth set and Auburn (8-2, 1-0) claimed the 3-1 (25-21, 19-25, 25-17, 28-26) win.
The Rebels trailed 2-1, but came out strong in the fourth set and led 23-21 late. A kill by Auburn's Gwyn Jones and an Ole Miss attack error made it 23-23. Auburn followed with a service error as the Rebels gained their first set point to try and force the deciding set. The Tigers' Shaina White put down her 10th kill of the match to erase the set point and then another attack error gave Auburn their first match point at 25-24. Nayo Warnell and Emily Stroup both stepped up to deliver back-to-back kills to hand the Rebels their second set point, but three more Rebel attack errors allowed Auburn to close it out in four, 28-26 and the match 3-1.
Auburn got off to a 11-5 lead to begin the match forcing an Ole Miss timeout. The Rebels closed to within two late, 22-20, but Auburn finished out the set on a 3-1 to win it 25-21.
Ole Miss turned the tables in set two getting out to a 12-7 lead early and forcing Auburn to call timeout. Auburn pulled to within 16-13 following couple errors from the Rebels, but that as close as the Tigers got in the set as Ole Miss sealed the deal with back-to-back kills from Stroup and Lexi Thompson to end it 25-19.
The Tigers built a 9-4 lead early in set three and Ole Miss called timeout to try and slow Auburn's momentum. The Rebels never could their footing in the set and Auburn finished it out 25-17 for the 2-1 lead.
Quick Hits…
• Ole Miss fell to 9-5 and 0-1 in the SEC.
• Senior Kate Gibson posted her 10th double-double of the year and 35th of her career with 15 kills and 18 digs.
• Sophomore middle blocker Nayo Warnell finished with 10 kills on a .333 clip and had 3 blocks.
• Junior middle blocker Delaney Gallagher had 5 kills on a .211 hitting percentage and 4 blocks
• Freshman setter Lauren Bars finished with 18 assists and also chipped in 5 kills on a .556 clip, 7 digs and 3 blocks.
• Sophomore setter Jordan Fate missed a double-double by one dig, posting 20 assists and 9 digs.
Next up…
Ole Miss welcomes Alabama Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Both teams will be looking for their first SEC win, as the Tide were swept by Georgia Friday night.
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.
