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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Volleyball Practice Report: First Week In The Books
8/12/2023 | Volleyball
Rebels Back in the Gym Ahead of 2023 Season
OXFORD, Miss. – Just under two weeks from the start of the 2023 season, Ole Miss volleyball opened fall camp and completed its first week of practice on Saturday at the Gillom Athletics Performance Center.
The anticipation for first serve in just 13 short days grows every day for the Rebels. As the team trains twice a day the vibes in the gym couldn't be better for Henry and the Ole Miss squad.
"It's great to be together all over again," said Henry. "I'm really excited about how the team came prepared from all their summer workouts. This is probably the best that they've been prepared to get to get to sixes as soon as possible. From our athletic training staff to our strength and conditioning staff, everyone believes that this is as prepared as they've ever been. The vibes have been great. They're in a good headspace. Physically we're really getting it together."
The Rebels returned 12 members from the 2022 squad, including All-SEC middle blocker Sasha Ratliff and All-SEC Freshman setter Aly Borellis. Among the two biggest names returning for Henry are super seniors Anna Bair and Maggie Miller, who both elected to return and spend their fifth year of eligibility in an Ole Miss uniform.
"Having Anna and Maggie back for their fifth year is really great ... It really says a lot about what we are trying to do here and that they want to continue to be a part of it. It says a lot about the teammates that they are working with and that they want to come back for the team and their coaches and to continue their careers as Ole Miss Rebels."
But it's not just upperclassmen who are key returners for the Rebels. Henry also welcomes back a highly touted freshmen class comprised of five AVCA High School All-Americans. The group did not disappoint in the freshman season in Oxford, collecting a combined four SEC Weekly Honors and playing in over 85.6% of the team's total sets.
"I'm really excited about that group. Some of them are pretty young too and they are going to continue to push our program forward as they continue throughout their career here. I think [last year] was just the beginning of how they are going to be able to produce for our team. Hopefully, we are seeing more than just weekly honors, SEC honors and potentially All-American honors in the near future."
Henry's 2023 squad is a close-knit group with only 13 members on the roster. Despite the small size, it has allowed the student-athletes to become even closer, bonding them on and off the court as a family.
"I really enjoy keeping a smaller roster because we can create really great authentic relationships … As far as a group they absolutely love and adore one another. Trust is a big thing we're trying to build here, and I think they are building that with the relationships they are cultivating … It's a really special group."
With a strong mix of youth and veteran experience, head coach Bre Henry looks to lead Ole Miss in her first full season at the helm. Henry, who led the Rebels for the final 11 matches last season, hopes to take her squad back to the NCAA Tournament for just the fifth time in program history.
"We have some big team goals, but I think the biggest one is we want to still be playing in December."
The Rebels will continue to train together over the next two weeks as they gear up for the start of the season. Fans will have their first chance to catch Ole Miss in action this preseason in an exhibition against Arkansas State on Saturday, August 19, at 1 p.m. The match, like all events at the Gillom Center, is free and open to the public.
First serve of the 2023 season officially takes place on August 25 at 3 p.m. as the Rebels open play at the FGCU Homewood Suites Invitational in Fort Myers, Florida, taking on St. John's.
Follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissVB, Facebook at Ole Miss Volleyball, and on Instagram at @olemissvb.
