The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
South Carolina
Rebels Return Home to Host Series Against South Carolina
10/28/2021 | Volleyball
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OLE MISS (15-5, 4-5 SEC) vs. SOUTH CAROLINA (12-8, 4-6 SEC) Friday-Saturday, Oct. 29-30 • 6 p.m. CT • Oxford, Miss. Gillom Center  |
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| Ole Miss Notes (PDF) • South Carolina Notes (PDF) • SEC Notes (PDF) |
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| Friday, Oct. 29 vs. South Carolina 6 p.m. CT |
Saturday, Oct. 30 vs. South Carolina 6 p.m. CT |
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| Watch | Live Stats | Watch | Live Stats |
RALLY POINTS
- Ole Miss returns home after two straight sweeps against Missouri this past weekend, the program's first back-to-back sweeps over SEC opponents since 2011. It was also the first time in program history that the Rebels picked up a sweep in Columbia.
- The Rebel offense was on fire Friday night against the Tigers hitting at a .383 clip and racking up 41 kills. This marked the highest hitting percentage in an SEC match by the Rebels since 2014.
- In her third match in the libero jersey, Riley Fischer recorded a career-high 20 digs against the Bulldogs, which set the most by a Rebel in a single-match this season. Fischer has suited up at libero the past four matches.
- Sultemeier is on the brink of Rebel history inching towards moving up in the Ole Miss recordbooks. The Fredericksburg, Texas, native is three 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 in the series at Mizzou. The Rebels rank fifth in the SEC averaging 2.54 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 continues to make an impact for the Rebels after spending two years at Oklahoma. McLaughlin recently recorded her 4,000 career assist against Kentucky, and ranks 13th among active players in total assists. The Texas native also earned SEC accolades as the Player and Setter of the Week, October 25.
- OLE MISS vs. SOUTH CAROLINA
- Last Meeting: 3/7/21, in Columbia (South Carolina 3, Ole Miss 1)
- Last Win: 11/22/17, in Oxford (Ole Miss 3, South Carolina 1)
- All-Time Series: 18-28 (First Meeting, 1987)
After making a brief appearance in the AVCA Top- 25 at No. 24 the first two weeks of the regular season, the Gamecocks have started out SEC play with a record of 4-6. South Carolina is coming off of a series split with Alabama, falling in the first match in three sets, yet rebounded in the second taking the Crimson Tide in a sweep.
As a team, the Gamecocks rank fourth in the SEC hitting at a .265 clip and prove to be a threat behind the service line averaging 1.36 service aces per set. Leading the Gamecocks is Mikayla Robinson who ranks fifth in the conference, hitting at a .356 clip.
ALL-TIME VS. SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina holds the advantage over the Rebels 28-18, in a series that dates back to 1987. The Gamecocks have controlled the series recently, winning the last four of five matchups. Ole Miss last defeated the Gamecocks in four sets from the Gillom Center in 2017.
LAST TIME AGAINST SOUTH CAROLINA
Ole Miss claimed the first set the last time the two teams met up in Columbia this past March, but were unable to make it past the Gamecocks, falling 3-1. Anna Bair led the Rebels with a total of 15 kills, while GG Carvacho added seven.
PREVIOUS MATCH
Ole Miss took care of buisness against Mizzou this past Saturday night, sweeping the Tigers 3-0 and claiming both matches in the series. The win over the Tigers marked the first back-to-back sweeps for the Rebels in SEC play since 2011.
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.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE THE TROUBLE
For the first time this season two Rebels recorded a double-double in the same match. For the seventh time this season, Kylee McLaughlin hit double figures in assists and digs, while Lauren Thompson matched a season-high with 11 kills and 11 digs.
4K AND CLIMBING
With 45 assists against Kentucky, Kylee McLaughlin eclipsed the 4,000 career assist mark. McLaughlin ranks 13th among active NCAA leaders in career assists and its one of 18 active players with over 4,000 in their career.
HOT HANDS
The Rebels could not miss in the first match against the Tigers, slamming down 41 kills at
a .383 clip. This marked the highest hitting percentage by the Rebels in an SEC match since 2014.
GETTING IN A GROOVE
In her third match this season in the libero jersey against Mississippi State, Riley Fischer displayed her confidence with a 20 dig performance, setting a career-high. This also set 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 also was the first time since the 2014 season that the Rebels hit for over .400 in a match.
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 2.54 blocks per set, Ole Miss ranks fifth in the SEC and 34th nationally. Sophomore Payton Brgoch leads this charge, 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 an 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 three 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 head on the road for a tough test in Knoxville against a top-25 Tennessee team on Sunday, Nov. 7. The match against the Volunteers will air nationally on ESPNU at 1 p.m. CT.
