Rebels Ready for Week 2 in NOLA

			ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL VOLLEYBALL CLASSIC OLE MISS VS. HOUSTON BAPTIST, MISSOURI STATE, at TULANE New Orleans, La. Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse
Coach McRoberts Weekend Preview • Anna Bair (FR, OH) Weekend Preview • Lauren Bars (JR, S) Weekend Preview 2019 Media Guide • Ole Miss Notes

Friday, Sept. 6 vs. Houston Baptist 3:00 p.m	Saturday, Sept. 7 vs. Missouri State 11:00 a.m.	Sunday, Sept. 8 at Tulane 1:00 p.m.
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RALLY POINTS

Ole Miss began its 2019 campaign hosting one of the strongest tournaments in the country, featuring three 2018 postseason teams. Rice and UCF are both receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches' Poll, and Iowa State serves as the reigning NIVC Champions.
The Rebels took a set off Iowa State (25-22), and nearly pulled off the upset of (RV) UCF, taking the first two games in thrilling fashion (26-24, 25-21).
Leading the Rebels passing game was senior libero Nicole Purcell, who tallied 62 digs on the weekend, including falling one shy of her career-high with 25 Sunday against UCF. The veteran was honored with All-Tournament recognition as she posted back-to-back games with 20 digs or more for the first time, marking the third/fourth 20+ digs contests of her career. Purcell recorded the second-most digs in the league during opening weekend, and averaging 5.17 digs per set.
Also impressive was rookie Anna Bair, who posted back-to-back double digit kill performances, registering 11 on Saturday against Iowa State on a strong .321 clip, and exploding for 19 on Sunday against UCF. Her 38 kills on the weekend was second-most by a freshman in the SEC.
Junior Lauren Bars recorded double-doubles in all three Rebel contests this past weekend. The junior dished out 110 assists on the weekend, averaging 9.17 per set, and added 36 digs, including falling one shy of her career high as she tallied 15 against Rice.
The Rebels lead the conference in digs, totaling 189 through 12 sets during opening weekend. They average 15.75 digs per set.

SCOUTING HOUSTON BAPTIST
The Huskies (3-1) swept Prairie View A&M in their last match on Tuesday. Houston Baptist welcomes back 12 letter winners from a squad that went 16-16 in 2018. Junior outside hitter Mikayla Vivens, a Southland First-Team All-
Conference selection, led the league with 24 double-doubles a year ago. Vivens teams up with junior middle blocker Megan Patillo and sophomore outside hitter Kelly Colwell on the Southland Preseason All-Conference team.

All-Time: First meeting

SCOUTING MISSOURI STATE
Missouri State, which is looking for its 21st consecutive winning season, hopes to improve off a 17-15 campaign. This year's squad is currently 2-2 with wins against Jacksonville and Southeast Missouri State. The Bears dropped a five-set match at Oral Roberts Tuesday. Sophomore outside hitter Amelia Flynn was named to the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason All-Conference team and she paces the Bears on the young season with 73 kills. Sophomore setter Chloe Rear has dished out a team-high 100 assists while defensive specialist Leah Vokolek defends the back row with 73 digs.

All-Time: Missouri State leads 3-0 (formerly Southwest Missouri State)
Last Meeting: 1993 at the Oklahoma Quad, 3-0

SCOUTING TULANE
The Green Wave is 3-1 on the young season. Tulane lost to Iowa State in the 2018 NIVC Finals to end an impressive 29-9 campaign a year ago. They became the first American Athletic Conference to ever play for a postseason championship. Senior Erika Hansel and junior Lexie Douglas were named to the Preseason All-American
Athletic Conference team. Hansel, a First-Team All-Conference selection in 2018, amassed 351 kills while Douglas tallied 352. The two have tallied 35 and 43, respectively, through the first four contests.

All-Time: Ole Miss leads 12-6
Last Meeting: 1992 at Ole Miss, L 0-2
Last Ole Miss win: 1991 at Tulane, 3-1

FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can watch all three Rebel matches courtesy of tulanegreenwave.com via the links provided ($). You can also follow along via live stats as well as the @OleMissVB Twitter account for in-game updates.

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.

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Players Mentioned

Anna Bair

Nicole Purcell

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