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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Steven McRoberts Weekly Press Conference
9/25/2017 | Volleyball
Ole Miss volleyball head coach Steven McRoberts met with members of the media on Monday as part of his weekly press conference. Coach McRoberts discussed the opening weekend of SEC play and the upcoming match against Mississippi State Wednesday (8 p.m., ESPNU).
Opening statementรขโฌยฆ
"We opened up SEC play last Friday against a very good Auburn team. Many predicted them to be fourth or fifth in the conference. They are off to a very good start. I thought we played really well. In the fourth set, we were up 23-21 with a lot of momentum. We ended up losing 28-26. We had five hitting errors during that run to lose the match. We were all very disappointed that we did not take it to the fifth set. We had some players step up and take accountability for how that match ended. Those are the same players that stepped up on Sunday and are the reason why we beat Alabama.
On the Alabama matchรขโฌยฆ
"I am really proud of our program, of the young ladies and where we are at right now. I thought our middles had a good weekend. Nayo Warnell is off to a great start in the conference. Bayleigh Scott stepped in against Alabama and played really well, especially coming off the bench as a freshman. Delaney Gallagher had a nice night on Friday. Lexi Thompson and Kate Gibson both had really nice matches against Alabama yesterday. The match yesterday was kind of crazy, we split one set apiece. The third set was tied 14-14 and then Alabama went on a 10-3 run to go up 24-17. We thought we would be changing sides being down 2-1, but, we went on a nine-point run. I was asked afterward if I had ever been a part of something like that? I cannot remember a time in 21 years being down seven set points then coming all the way back. We had been struggling a little bit during that 10-3 stretch. For us not to make one error and Alabama to not earn one point during that stretch was pretty incredible. We took that momentum into the fourth set, which went back and forth until we pulled away at the end."
This is the first time in four years we have gotten a win on the first weekend [of SEC play]. We have had some tough opening weekends. To be 1-1 versus 0-2 is a lot better feeling and to be in the middle of the pack starting off versus working our way up from the bottom.
On assistant coachesรขโฌยฆ
"I am thankful for our assistant coaches Ronaldo Pacheco and Tori Mellinger. They prepared the team really well. It is showing up in our defense. We are leading the league in digs right now. Our blocking has gone up since SEC play started. That is important, as we go into Wednesday against Mississippi State. Three matches in six days, that is a lot of play. We will get back after it today."
On Mississippi Stateรขโฌยฆ
"Coach David McFatrich at Mississippi State has done a really nice job. If you look at the overall record program wise our program has dominated against Mississippi State. But, the past two years they have gotten us. We are going in with more motivation than we have had in the past, especially understanding that we can get to 2-1 in the league. Then we will come back Sunday and play Georgia. We have had great crowds SEC wise. I think the new building with the new acoustics were great both matches. I'm hoping that can continue as well."
