The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, October 5
Fayetteville, Ark.
7 p.m. CT
Ole Miss
10-8, 0-4
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Arkansas
7-8, 1-4
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Ole Miss
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Arkansas
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Career Performances Not Enough; Arkansas Steals Contest 3-2 Friday
10/5/2018 | Volleyball
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- With both teams vying for their first league victory, a five-setter was evident, as Ole Miss volleyball dropped a heartbreaker to Arkansas in Barnhill Arena Friday, falling 2-3 (26-24, 25-22, 22-25, 19-25, 13-15).
The Rebels slip to 10-8 on the season and 0-4 in league play, while Arkansas improves to 7-8 and 1-4.
Despite the loss, several Rebels delivered career performances, as the team fell just six digs shy from tying a single-match program record (110, North Dakota, 2017). Senior Caitlin Wernentin registered a career-best 17 kills, hitting at a .378 efficiency and classmate Caroline Adams matched her career-high with 31 digs.
Junior Emily Stroup led the way, registering her league-leading ninth double-double of the season with 20 kills and tying a career-high with 22 digs. Sophomore Leah Mulkey also tied a career-high with 12 digs, and junior setter Jordan Fate recorded her seventh double-double, posting 26 assists and 13 digs.
Sophomore Bayleigh Scott nearly joined the career crew, registering six blocks and just two away from her career best.
The two squads battled in the opening stanza, going through seven tied scores and two set points before the Rebels secured the set 26-24. After a kill from Stroup set up the initial set point, a slam by Wernentin and an Arkansas miscue handed Ole Miss its second set of SEC play.
The second set was on both ends of the spectrum, as the Rebels led by as many as seven points- despite seven ties early on- at 20-13 before the Razorbacks clawed back into contention, narrowing the gap to 23-20. A late surge from Stroup caught fire, as she slammed two big kills and handed Ole Miss the 25-22 victory.
The Razorbacks went on a 4-0 run early in the third frame to take a 5-3 lead, but a pair of three-point rallies from the Rebels kept the contest interesting, as the theme of the night continued. The momentum looked like it shifted in Ole Miss' favor after a huge rejection from the blocking duo of Scott and sophomore setter Lauren Bars evened things at 9-9, but the two squads continued to trade points, reaching eight ties by the 14-14 mark.
Another run from the Razorbacks, who scored five unanswered points, put Arkansas in charge, who held the Rebels to a 24-20 set point. Ole Miss threatened, securing two big points to cut the deficit to 24-22, but ultimately dropped the set 25-22 as Arkansas forced a game four.
After a fourth set where the Razorbacks led the entire way and the Rebels only trailed by three or less, Arkansas continued plotting its comeback, taking the frame 25-19 and evened the match at two games apiece.
Ole Miss swung the advantage at the side change in the fifth, leading 8-7 after a Wernentin kill. The Razorbacks then went on a tear, taking six of the next seven points, including a 4-0 run, to take a 13-9 lead in the final frame.
The Rebels used three Stroup kills to nearly mount a comeback, but ultimately dropped the finale 15-13 as Arkansas stole the match and their first SEC victory.
UP NEXT
Ole Miss hosts LSU Sunday in a red out, where fans are encouraged to wear red. There will be a t-shirt giveaway for the first 200 fans.
Follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissVB, Facebook at Ole Miss Volleyball, @olemissvb on Instagram. You can also follow head coach Steven McRoberts on Twitter @CoachMcRoberts.
The Rebels slip to 10-8 on the season and 0-4 in league play, while Arkansas improves to 7-8 and 1-4.
Despite the loss, several Rebels delivered career performances, as the team fell just six digs shy from tying a single-match program record (110, North Dakota, 2017). Senior Caitlin Wernentin registered a career-best 17 kills, hitting at a .378 efficiency and classmate Caroline Adams matched her career-high with 31 digs.
Junior Emily Stroup led the way, registering her league-leading ninth double-double of the season with 20 kills and tying a career-high with 22 digs. Sophomore Leah Mulkey also tied a career-high with 12 digs, and junior setter Jordan Fate recorded her seventh double-double, posting 26 assists and 13 digs.
Sophomore Bayleigh Scott nearly joined the career crew, registering six blocks and just two away from her career best.
The two squads battled in the opening stanza, going through seven tied scores and two set points before the Rebels secured the set 26-24. After a kill from Stroup set up the initial set point, a slam by Wernentin and an Arkansas miscue handed Ole Miss its second set of SEC play.
The second set was on both ends of the spectrum, as the Rebels led by as many as seven points- despite seven ties early on- at 20-13 before the Razorbacks clawed back into contention, narrowing the gap to 23-20. A late surge from Stroup caught fire, as she slammed two big kills and handed Ole Miss the 25-22 victory.
The Razorbacks went on a 4-0 run early in the third frame to take a 5-3 lead, but a pair of three-point rallies from the Rebels kept the contest interesting, as the theme of the night continued. The momentum looked like it shifted in Ole Miss' favor after a huge rejection from the blocking duo of Scott and sophomore setter Lauren Bars evened things at 9-9, but the two squads continued to trade points, reaching eight ties by the 14-14 mark.
Another run from the Razorbacks, who scored five unanswered points, put Arkansas in charge, who held the Rebels to a 24-20 set point. Ole Miss threatened, securing two big points to cut the deficit to 24-22, but ultimately dropped the set 25-22 as Arkansas forced a game four.
After a fourth set where the Razorbacks led the entire way and the Rebels only trailed by three or less, Arkansas continued plotting its comeback, taking the frame 25-19 and evened the match at two games apiece.
Ole Miss swung the advantage at the side change in the fifth, leading 8-7 after a Wernentin kill. The Razorbacks then went on a tear, taking six of the next seven points, including a 4-0 run, to take a 13-9 lead in the final frame.
The Rebels used three Stroup kills to nearly mount a comeback, but ultimately dropped the finale 15-13 as Arkansas stole the match and their first SEC victory.
UP NEXT
Ole Miss hosts LSU Sunday in a red out, where fans are encouraged to wear red. There will be a t-shirt giveaway for the first 200 fans.
Follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissVB, Facebook at Ole Miss Volleyball, @olemissvb on Instagram. You can also follow head coach Steven McRoberts on Twitter @CoachMcRoberts.
Team Stats
OM
AR
Kills
62
71
Errors
24
22
Attempts
190
210
Hitting %
.200
.233
Points
74.0
84.0
Assists
59
68
Aces
2
6
Blocks
10.0
7.0
Game Leaders
Kills
20
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
1
Blocks
6
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOH
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