The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, November 1
Knoxville, Tenn.
5:30 PM
Ole Miss
14-7,6-4SEC
2
at
3
Tennessee
9-12,3-8SEC
1
2
3
4
5
F
Ole Miss
18
15
25
25
11
2
Tennessee
25
25
19
23
15
3
Comeback Bid Falls Short Friday as Rebels Fall in Five
11/1/2019 | Volleyball
Ole Miss battles but drops a 3-2 heartbreaker to Tennessee
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Ole Miss Volleyball (14-7, 6-4 SEC) nearly delivered a thrilling comeback Friday at Thompson-Boling Arena, dropping a five-set heartbreaker to Tennessee (10-11, 4-7 SEC) by scores of 18-25, 15-25, 25-19, 25-23, 11-15.
After falling in the first two sets, the Rebels responded in noble fashion, determined to continue the contest, winning both the third and fourth frames as they outhit the Volunteers to force a fifth.
"I'm proud of the fight we had tonight in a tough place to play," head coach Steven McRoberts said. "The focus now turns to Alabama."
Senior Emily Stroup led the way with 18 kills, while classmates Nayo Warnell and Leah Mulkey added nine and seven, respectively. Warnell turned in a team-high .364 clip, a pair of aces and three blocks, while sophomore Aubrey Sultemeier led the blocking game with five total rejections.
Junior Lauren Bars dished out 42 assists, registering her league-leading 12th double-double after tying her career high with 17 digs. Stroup also recorded a double-double, adding 12 digs, while senior libero Nicole Purcell registered a squad-best 22.
After Ole Miss picked up three consecutive points to begin the opening stanza, the two squads entered a back-and-forth affair, enduring 11 ties by the time 20 points was reached.
Even as late as the 17-17 mark after a kill from Warnell, Tennessee capitalized on a pair of Rebel errors and a trio of kills to go on an 8-1 run and pick up the match advantage at 25-18.
The Volunteers opened the second set building an early cushion, registering the first five points and building an 11-2 lead. A sequence of four straight points, including a block from Sultemeier and Mulkey, trimmed the deficit as Ole Miss cut the lead to 11-6.
Tennessee fired back and widened the gap, using another 5-0 run to build a 16-8 advantage. The senior trio of Warnell, Stroup, and Mulkey scattered slams, but the Rebels were unable to douse the Volunteers' momentum, falling in the second set 25-15.
After a 2-2 tie early in the third frame, the Volunteers once again built a commanding lead, tallying eight straight points for a 10-2 lead. The Rebels quickly shifted the momentum, registering five consecutive points on some Lady Vol miscues and kills from Warnell and junior Izzy Guzik, to narrow things to 10-7.
Just one point later, the seniors supplied strength again, as Warnell and Stroup kills bookended a three-point rally, handing Ole Miss their first lead of the set at 11-10.
The Rebels capitalized on four straight Volunteer errors to take a 14-12 advantage, and continued to maintain control, taking six of the final seven points, including back-to-back slams from Stroup, to take the set 25-19. Stroup posted five total kills in the frame, hitting at a .333 clip.
A 7-1 run for the Volunteers put an early lead on the board for Tennessee in the fourth at 10-4. Ole Miss began to chip away, using a 4-1 run followed by six straight points to tie the contest and take control of the frame at 15-13. A big-time slam from freshman Anna Bair increased the Ole Miss lead to three points, but a 3-0 rally from the Volunteers cut the Rebel lead to just one at 19-18.
Tennessee stole the lead back, going up 20-19 and again 22-21. Stroup ignited in the final few points, tallying three kills, including a set of back-to-back slams to bring the Rebels to set point, before forcing a fifth after a 25-23 Set 4 decision.
Ole Miss kept the momentum as things began in the finale, with the Rebels registering six of the first eight points, Stroup also picking up where she left off with the first point of the set.
The Volunteers used a four-point sequence to tie the contest at 6-6, and then rallied for another three to go up 9-7 and shift the momentum.
The Volunteers continued to carry the advantage for the remainder of the frame, spoiling the Rebels comeback with a 15-11 final frame.
UP NEXT
The Rebels continue their road trip, traveling to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama on Sunday. First serve is slated for 2 p.m.
After falling in the first two sets, the Rebels responded in noble fashion, determined to continue the contest, winning both the third and fourth frames as they outhit the Volunteers to force a fifth.
"I'm proud of the fight we had tonight in a tough place to play," head coach Steven McRoberts said. "The focus now turns to Alabama."
Senior Emily Stroup led the way with 18 kills, while classmates Nayo Warnell and Leah Mulkey added nine and seven, respectively. Warnell turned in a team-high .364 clip, a pair of aces and three blocks, while sophomore Aubrey Sultemeier led the blocking game with five total rejections.
Junior Lauren Bars dished out 42 assists, registering her league-leading 12th double-double after tying her career high with 17 digs. Stroup also recorded a double-double, adding 12 digs, while senior libero Nicole Purcell registered a squad-best 22.
After Ole Miss picked up three consecutive points to begin the opening stanza, the two squads entered a back-and-forth affair, enduring 11 ties by the time 20 points was reached.
Even as late as the 17-17 mark after a kill from Warnell, Tennessee capitalized on a pair of Rebel errors and a trio of kills to go on an 8-1 run and pick up the match advantage at 25-18.
The Volunteers opened the second set building an early cushion, registering the first five points and building an 11-2 lead. A sequence of four straight points, including a block from Sultemeier and Mulkey, trimmed the deficit as Ole Miss cut the lead to 11-6.
Tennessee fired back and widened the gap, using another 5-0 run to build a 16-8 advantage. The senior trio of Warnell, Stroup, and Mulkey scattered slams, but the Rebels were unable to douse the Volunteers' momentum, falling in the second set 25-15.
After a 2-2 tie early in the third frame, the Volunteers once again built a commanding lead, tallying eight straight points for a 10-2 lead. The Rebels quickly shifted the momentum, registering five consecutive points on some Lady Vol miscues and kills from Warnell and junior Izzy Guzik, to narrow things to 10-7.
Just one point later, the seniors supplied strength again, as Warnell and Stroup kills bookended a three-point rally, handing Ole Miss their first lead of the set at 11-10.
The Rebels capitalized on four straight Volunteer errors to take a 14-12 advantage, and continued to maintain control, taking six of the final seven points, including back-to-back slams from Stroup, to take the set 25-19. Stroup posted five total kills in the frame, hitting at a .333 clip.
A 7-1 run for the Volunteers put an early lead on the board for Tennessee in the fourth at 10-4. Ole Miss began to chip away, using a 4-1 run followed by six straight points to tie the contest and take control of the frame at 15-13. A big-time slam from freshman Anna Bair increased the Ole Miss lead to three points, but a 3-0 rally from the Volunteers cut the Rebel lead to just one at 19-18.
Tennessee stole the lead back, going up 20-19 and again 22-21. Stroup ignited in the final few points, tallying three kills, including a set of back-to-back slams to bring the Rebels to set point, before forcing a fifth after a 25-23 Set 4 decision.
Ole Miss kept the momentum as things began in the finale, with the Rebels registering six of the first eight points, Stroup also picking up where she left off with the first point of the set.
The Volunteers used a four-point sequence to tie the contest at 6-6, and then rallied for another three to go up 9-7 and shift the momentum.
The Volunteers continued to carry the advantage for the remainder of the frame, spoiling the Rebels comeback with a 15-11 final frame.
UP NEXT
The Rebels continue their road trip, traveling to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama on Sunday. First serve is slated for 2 p.m.
Team Stats
OM
UT
Kills
47
72
Errors
18
28
Attempts
153
184
Hitting %
.190
.239
Points
60.0
94.0
Assists
45
68
Aces
3
11
Blocks
10.0
11.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
18
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
2
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
S
/ Volleyball
OH
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballMB
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