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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Tennessee
Rebels Prepared For Another Ranked Road Matchup
11/6/2021 | Volleyball
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OLE MISS (17-5, 6-5 SEC) at No. 22 TENNESSEE (16-6, 8-4 SEC) Sunday, Nov. 7 • 1 p.m. CT • Knoxville, Tenn. Thompson-Boling Arena  |
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| WATCH • LIVE STATS OLE MISS NOTES (PDF) • SEC NOTES (PDF) |
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RALLY POINTS
- Ole Miss heads on the road for a tough test at ranked Tennessee, after picking up a series sweep taking both matches against South Carolina this past weekend. The Rebels have won four straight in SEC play for the first time since 2019.
- The Rebel offense has been on a tear recently hitting at a .383 clip in the first match against Mizzou. This marked the highest hitting percentage in an SEC match by the Rebels since 2014. Ole Miss bested that mark a week later, hitting .389 in the second match against the Gamecocks.
- After taking over the libero role Riley Fischer, continues to pile up career bests. In the first match against South Carolina, Fischer totaled a career-high 21 digs, the most by a Rebel in a single-match this season.
- With three blocks in the series against South Carolina, Aubrey Sultemeier cracked the top-five in the Rebel record book with her 286th career block. The senior is currently averaging 0.82 blocks per set.
- 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 2.50 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.
- Last Meeting: 11/1/19, in Knoxville (Tennessee 3, Ole Miss 2)
- Last Win: 9/27/19, in Oxford (Ole Miss 3, Tennessee 2)
- All-Time Series: 11-48 (First Meeting, 1977)
SCOUTING THE LADY VOLS
The Vols are currently on a three game skid, after dropping the last two matches to ranked foes falling to No. 5 Kentucky in three sets, and dropping Thursday's contest in Gainesville 3-1.
Despite the tough stretch, the Vols still rank highly in the SEC, leading the conference averaging 14.5 kills per set and hitting at a .265 clip at third in the conference.
ALL-TIME VS. TENNESSEE
The Volunteers hold the all-time advantage in the matchup between between the two schools winning 48 matches to Ole Miss' 11. Tennessee has taken the last four out of five, with the last Rebel win coming in a 3-2 victory in Oxford in 2019.
LAST TIME AGAINST TENNESSEE
In the last showdown between the two teams, Ole Miss took the Vols to five sets after dropping the first two before eventually falling 3-2. Sultemeier and Bair recorded a combined nine kills in the match in Knoxville.
PREVIOUS MATCH
After defeating South Carolina in a grueling five-set match Friday night, the Ole Miss offense came out on fire defeating the Gamecocks in straight sets Saturday night. The Rebels hit for their highest clip in SEC play at .389 off of 51 kills, while Sasha Ratliff led the Rebels with 15 kills of off 24 swings.
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.
THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE
In the middle, Sasha Ratliff could not be stopped in the series against the Gamecocks racking up a total of 37 kills on the weekend all while hitting at a .525 clip. For the first time in her career, Ratliff hit for 20 plus kills in the first match against South Carolina, totaling a career-high 22 kills. She remained just as dominant at the net as well, recording eight blocks for the third time this season.
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 in the second match at Missouri.
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 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. Just a week later, Ole Miss bested this clip again hitting at a .389 percentage in the second match against South Carolina.
GETTING IN A GROOVE
Riley Fischer has cemented her spot in the libero uniform displaying her confidence with a 21 dig performance in the first match against South Carolina, 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 2.50 blocks per set, Ole Miss ranks fifth in the SEC and 34th nationally. Sophomore Sasha Ratliff leads the charge averaging 1.16 blocks per set.
MVP PERFORMANCE
Sasha Ratliff sure had herself a weekend in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Atlanta native tied her then 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 one block 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 home for a four-match homestand as Ole Miss nears the final stretch of conference play. Ole Miss is set to take on the hot LSU Tigers in a two match series from the Gillom Center, Thursday through Friday November 11-12 at 6 p.m. CT.
