The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Missouri
Volleyball to Head to Mizzou for Weekend Series
10/21/2021 | Volleyball
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OLE MISS (13-5, 2-5 SEC) at MISSOURI (4-16, 1-6 SEC) Friday-Saturday, Oct. 22-23 • 6:30 p.m. CT • Columbia, Mo. Hearnes Center  |
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| Ole Miss Notes (PDF) • SEC Notes (PDF) |
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| Friday, Oct. 22 at Missouri 6:30 p.m. CT |
Saturday, Oct. 23 at Missouri 6:30 p.m. CT |
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| Watch | Live Stats | Watch | Live Stats |
RALLY POINTS
- The Rebels head to Columbia after splitting their last two matches and after falling in a five-sets at home against Mississippi State on Sunday. Defensively, Riley Fischer totaled 20 digs for a career-high, while Aubrey Sultemeier racked up a season-high seven blocks.
- On the outside, Anna Bair has been electric, racking up double-digit kills the last 10 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.
- In her third match in the libero jersey, Fischer recorded a career-high 20 digs against the Bulldogs, which marked the most by a Rebel in a single-match this season.
- Sultemeier is on the brink of Rebel history inching towards moving up in the Ole Miss record books. The Fredericksburg, Texas, native is seven blocks away from cracking the top-five in program history for total blocks.
- Ole Miss has continued to remain dominant at the net, totaling 15 blocks against Mississippi State. The Rebels rank fifth in the SEC averaging 2.55 blocks per set and have totaled 15 or more blocks in three matches this season.
- 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 12th among active players in total assists.
MATCH MAKEUP
- OLE MISS at MISSOURI
- Last Meeting: 2020, in Oxford (Missouri 3, Ole Miss 1)
- Last Win: 2019, in Columbia (Ole Miss 3, Missouri 1)
- All-Time Series: 6-13 (First Meeting, 1989)
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
After reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year and after losing five starters from last year's squad, the Tigers enter the weekend with an overall record of 4-16 and 1-6 in SEC play.
Mizzou is coming off of its first win in SEC play after defeating Auburn this past Sunday in five sets. Anna Dixon paced the Tigers with a career- high 27 kills.
ALL-TIME VS. MIZZOU
The Tigers hold the advantage in the series against the Rebels ahead 13-16, in a matchup that dates back to 1989. Mizzou has defeated Ole Miss in four out of the last five meetings.
LAST TIME AGAINST MISSOURI
The Rebels took a set off the eventual NCAA Tournament team in the last meeting between the two schools in November of 2020 before falling 3-1 at the Gillom Center. GG Carvacho registered a career-high 20 kill performance against the Tigers, while Anna Bair recorded 15 kills.
PREVIOUS MATCH
After winning the first two sets, Ole Miss was unable to hold off a Mississippi State comeback, falling in a reverse sweep to the Bulldogs 3-2. Kylee McLaughlin recorded her 50th career double-double against the Bulldogs racking up 39 assists and 11 digs.
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 12th among active NCAA leaders in career assists and its one of 17 active players with over 4,000 in their careeer.
GOING STREAKING
Racking up 20 plus kills for the second match in a row, Anna Bair continued her streak with 10 straight matches in double-digits. This marks the longest streak of the junior's career and the first time a Rebel has carried this streak since 2018.
GETTING IN A GROOVE
In her third match this season in the libero jersey, Riley Fischer displayed her confidence with a 20 dig performance, marking a career-high. This also marked the most digs by a Rebel in a single- match this season.
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.
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 2.55 blocks per set, Ole Miss ranks fifth in the SEC and 31st 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 49th 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 seven 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 return home next weekend to the Gillom Center for a two-match series against South Carolina Friday through Saturday Oct. 30-31. Both matches against the Gamecocks will air on SEC Network + at 6:30 p.m. CT.
