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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
14-5,3-5SEC
Missouri
4-17,1-7SEC
Volleyball Tames Tigers in Three Sets
10/22/2021 | Volleyball
Rebels Hit for Highest Clip in SEC Play Since 2014
COLUMBIA, Mo. — In the first of a two-match series, it was all about the Ole Miss offense Friday night in a 3-0 sweep over Missouri from the Hearnes Center for the first sweep in program history in Columbia. The Rebels hit for a .386 clip on the night, marking the highest hitting percentage in SEC play since 2014.
Five Rebels accounted for five or more kills each, as Ole Miss (14-5, 3-5 SEC) shut down Missouri (4-17, 1-7 SEC), holding the Tigers to a .176 clip. For the second straight match and third time this season, Lauren Thompson hit for double-digit kills with 11, while Katie Corelli recorded a career-high six kills in her first start as a Rebel. In her fourth match in the libero jersey, Riley Fischer recorded 15 digs, while Kylee McLaughlin fed her hitters 32 assists.
The Rebels opened up the match and the first set with a 3-0 run before giving up five straight points to Mizzou to trail early 5-3. Ole Miss responded with back-to-back kills to even the set up at five all. Both teams continued to play tight until the Rebels took a four-point lead at 15-11. Ole Miss never looked back hitting at a .520 clip in set one to take it 25-17.
Mizzou came out with more fire to begin the second set as it remained tied through nine until the Rebels went on a 5-1 run, highlighted by three kills to lead 14-10. The Rebels continued to remain control with multiple quick runs as the offense ran the show with 27 kills through two. Thompson hammered down her fifth kill of the night to give the Rebels the set two victory 25-17, to go up 2-0 in the match.
The Rebels found themselves in an early 6-4 deficit in the third set. Ole Miss continued to play catch up, pulling within one at 10-9. The Rebels took their first lead of the set at 12-11, as the Tigers continued to put up a fight to push the match to four sets. Sasha Ratliff made her presence known in the middle, rattling off her seventh kill to put Ole Miss up 15-13. The Tigers kept the set close, yet the Rebel front line remained strong. Ole Miss sealed the victory with its 41st kill of the night to win set three 25-20 and sweep the match 3-0.
The Rebels return to the Hearnes Center tomorrow night for the series finale against the Tigers. The match will air on SEC Network+ at 6:30 p.m. CT.
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.
