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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
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Mississippi State
Volleyball Ready for Rivalry Showdown
10/16/2021 | Volleyball
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OLE MISS (13-4, 2-4 SEC) vs MISSISSIPPI STATE (14-5, 4-2 SEC) Sunday, Oct. 17 • 2 p.m. CT • Oxford, Miss. Gillom Center  |
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| WATCH • LIVE STATS OLE MISS NOTES (PDF) • SEC NOTES (PDF) |
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RALLY POINTS
- The Rebels are looking to carry the momentum from the five-set thriller at Texas A&M going into the matchup against Mississippi State this Sunday. Anna Bair continues to lead the Rebels, as the junior rides an nine match double-digit kill streak to becoming the first Rebel to do so since 2018.
- For the first time since 2010, Ole Miss took down a top-15 opponent after defeating No. 15 Western Kentucky 3-1 on their home court. This also marked the first win on the road over a top-15 opponent in program history.
- At the net, Sasha Ratliff was a force through three matches at the Holiday Inn-University Plaza Invitational. The tournament MVP racked up 3.00 kills per set and matched a career-high 15 kills and nine blocks in the win over WKU. Her performance led to her earning SEC Player of the Week on Sept. 13 and Offensive honors, for the Rebels' first weekly honors this season.
- On the outside, Anna Bair was electric throughout the Indiana Invitational, earning all-tournament honors. The St. Louis native, racked up double-digit kills in all three matches. At Texas A&M her 22 kills marked the most in a single-match by a Rebel this season and tied a career-high.
- Former Big 12 Co-Setter of the Year Kylee McLaughlin joined the Rebels as a graduate transfer this off-season after spending two years at Oklahoma. McLaughlin recently recorded her 4,000 career assist against Kentucky, and ranks 14th among active players in total assists.
- Last Meeting: 2/12/21, in Starkville (Mississippi State 3, Ole Miss 0)
- Last Win: 10/4/19, in Starkville (Ole Miss 3, Mississippi State 2)
- All-Time Series: 61-24 (First Meeting, 1976)
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Mississippi State enters the matchup with an overall record of 13-5 and 4-2 in SEC play after a 3-1 win over South Carolina in Starkville Wednesday night.
The Bulldogs are led behind the service line by Lauren Myrick, averaging 0.37 aces per set ranking fifth overall in the SEC. In the back row, Lily Gunter also ranks fifth in the conference averaging 4.18 digs per set.
ALL-TIME VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE
Ole Miss holds the series advantage over it's in-state rival 61-24 all-time. The Rebels have won three out of the last five against the Bulldogs after falling in both matches last season in Starkville.
LAST TIME AGAINST MSU
Despite picking up the first set against the Bulldogs and taking them to 26 points in set three and four, it was not enough as MSU was able to walk away with a 3-1 win against Ole Miss in Starkville. Three Rebels recorded double-digit kills in the match, as Samantha Schnitta and Anna Bair led the squad with 12 each.
PREVIOUS MATCH
In the Rebels' final mid-week match of the season, Ole Miss picked up its first set one win in SEC play on its way to a gritty 3-1 win over Texas A&M Wednesday night in Bryan-College Station. Anna Bair led all with 22 kills, while three Rebels finished with 10 plus digs. The win marked the Rebels first over the Aggies since 2017.
LAST WOMEN STANDING
Ole Miss was the only team in the conference to go through non-conference play unblemished at a perfect record of 11-0, to start off SEC play undefeated for the second time in program history.
4K AND CLIMBING
With 45 assists against Kentucky, Kylee McLaughlin eclipsed the 4,000 career assist mark. McLaughlin ranks 14th among active NCAA leaders in career assists and its one of 20 active players with over 4,000 in their career.
GOING STREAKING
By tying a career-high 22 kills at Texas A&M on Wednesday, Anna Bair continued her streak with nine straight matches with double-digit kills. This marks the longest streak of the junior's career and the first time a Rebel has carried this streak since 2018.
VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS
The Rebels are 6-59 all time against ranked opponents, after picking up a win against No. 15 Western Kentucky on the road for its first win in program history over a ranked opponent.
RECORD FIREPOWER
Ole Miss came out with some big swings against Alabama A&M hitting at a rally scoring era program record .488 clip. It marked the first time since the 2014 season that the Rebels hit for over .400 in a match.
DIGGIN' IT
The Rebel defense was locked in at Texas A&M recording a season-high 86 digs as a team. Sam Burgio, Riley Fischer and Kylee McLaughlin each recording double-digit digs. Fischer bested her career-high recording 13 digs against the Aggies.
HOT START
For the first time since 2014, Ole Miss started the season off 12-0 in the second year under Kayla Banwarth marking the second best start in program history.
BREAK OUT THE BROOMS
Not only did the Rebels open the season 2-0 for the first time since 2016, it also marked the first time since 2014 that Ole Miss has swept its first two opening matches.
THE BLOCK PARTY CONTINUES
With 2.51 blocks per set, Ole Miss ranks fifth in the SEC and 39th nationally. Sophomore Payton Brgoch leads this charge, averaging 1.26 blocks per set.
SOPHOMORE SURGE
After appearing in 15 matches as a freshman, Brgoch has made a big jump in year two of her Rebel career. The middle blocker has already bested her previous career-highs, racking up 18 kills in the win at Western Kentucky. Nationally, Brgoch ranks 51st averaging 1.26 blocks per set.
MVP PERFORMANCE
Sasha Ratliff sure had herself a weekend in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Atlanta native tied her career-highs racking up 15 kills and nine blocks in the win over No. 15 WKU. Ratliff was ultimately named the Holiday Inn-University Plaza Tournament MVP and was then the first Rebel since 2016 to be named the SEC Player of the Week.
READY FOR ROUND TWO
Year two of the Kayla Banwarth era continues, after a rigorous 2020-21 season with eight matches against top-15 opponents from the AVCA Poll. This marked the most matches against ranked opponents in a single-season dating back to 2003.
NEW FACES TO THE BENCH
Three new faces joined the Rebel volleyball family this offseason with the addition of former George Mason middle blocker Brad Creamer as a volunteer assistant coach.
Another former Patriot made his way to Oxford as well, with five-time letterwinner outside hitter Sam Greenslade joining the staff as a graduate manager.
Rounding out the staff is coordinator of operations Kendra Charles. Charles joins the Rebels after spending five seasons as the director of volleyball operations at Northern Colorado.
MISSISSIPPI MADE
When freshman outside hitter Julia Dyess made her Rebel debut against UTSA, she became the first Mississippi native to don a Rebel uniform since 2002. The Brandon native garnered Under Armour All-American Honorable Mention honors as a senior at Hartfield Academy.
CLIMBIN' ON UP
Senior middle blocker Aubrey Sultemeier continues to cement her legacy as a Rebel moving up the Ole Miss record book as one of the top middle blockers in program history.
The Fredericksburg, Texas, native is 14 total blocks away from cracking the top-five in the rally scoring era. She already holds the top spot in single-match block assists, recording nine on two separate occasions.
REBELS SLOTTED 11TH IN SEC PRESEASON POLL
After finishing in 12th last season, Ole Miss was tabbed to finish 11th overall in this year's SEC Preseason poll.
The defending national champions held the top spot, as Kentucky was picked as the favorite to repeat as the conference champions again, receiving a total of seven first place votes.
KEEPING IT 100-AT THE GILLOM CENTER
Following a year of limited capacity at the Gillom Athletics Performance Center, Ole Miss is ready to welcome fans back into the venue for 12 home matches.
Admission to any Ole Miss volleyball match is free of charge. Fans are required to wear a mask in accordance with university policies.
UP NEXT
The Rebels hit the road for a two match series against Missouri Friday-Saturday October 22-23. Both matches against the Tigers will air at 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network +.
Follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissVB, Facebook at Ole Miss Volleyball, and on Instagram at @olemissvb. You can also follow head coach Kayla Banwarth on Twitter @KaylaBanwarth2.
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