OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss volleyball kicked off a big weekend in Oxford with a 3-1 win (25-21, 21-25, 25-13, 25-21) over Tennessee here Friday night at the Gillom Sports Center in front of 812 fans. In the win, senior Nakeyta Clair broke the school record for total blocks and now has 388.
With the win, the Rebels improved to 18-5 overall and evened their record in the SEC to 4-4. Tennessee fell to 18-6 and 4-5 in the SEC.
Tennessee led 15-13 in the first set, when the Rebels went on a 6-1 run to take a 19-16 lead. Ole Miss went on to win the set 25-21.
The Rebels led 5-2 early in the second set, but the Vols used an 8-1 run to go up 10-6 forcing Ole Miss to call timeout. The Rebels tied it up at 17, but Tennessee won the next two points to go up 19-17. After a kill by Kate Gibson to pulled the Rebels within one (21-22), the Vols won the final three points to take the set, 25-21, and square the match 1-1.
Coming out of the break, the Rebels took control of the match, hitting .344 in the third set on their way to a 2-1 lead. The Rebels built a 10-6 lead and never looked back, winning 25-13 to put the Vols on their heels. The fourth set was a back and forth affair, with neither team holding more than a three-point lead. At 20-20, the Rebels won four consecutive points on kills from Lexi Thompson, Gibson and Kathryn Cather and a huge block at the net by Cather and Ty Laporte to go up 24-20. Tennessee erased one match point, but an attack error on the next play gave the Rebels the set 25-21 and the match, 3-1.
Quick Hits
• After Friday’s matches, the Rebels moved up to sixth in the SEC standings.
• Ole Miss improved to 7-1 overall and 2-1 in the SEC in four-set matches. They are now 15-1 overall and 4-0 in the SEC when winning the first set.
• The Rebels hit .248 and are now 18-1 overall and 4-0 in the SEC when hitting above .200.
• Ole Miss posted a season-high 13 blocks. Seniors Ty Laporte and Nakeyta Clair had six and five, respectively. Clair broke the school record and now has 388 for her career. Two-time All-American Regina Thomas (2008-11) previously the record (383).
• Four players recorded double-digit kills led by sophomore Kate Gibson’s 14. She recorded her second straight double-double with 15 digs as well, and added three blocks.
• Senior Ty Laporte notched 11 kills on a .333 clip to go with her six blocks. It marked the 18th time in 23 matches and the sixth straight, for Laporte to hit above .300.
• Senior Nakeyta Clair chipped in 11 kills with her five blocks. With her three block assists, Clair recorded her 300th career block assist and needs just four to set the school record (303), held by Regina Thomas.
• Freshman Kathryn Cather finished with 10 kills on a .450 clip to add 10.5 points to the cause.
• Junior Aubrey Edie passed out 42 assists and chipped in four kills, six digs and three blocks.
With the win, the Rebels improved to 18-5 overall and evened their record in the SEC to 4-4. Tennessee fell to 18-6 and 4-5 in the SEC.
Tennessee led 15-13 in the first set, when the Rebels went on a 6-1 run to take a 19-16 lead. Ole Miss went on to win the set 25-21.
The Rebels led 5-2 early in the second set, but the Vols used an 8-1 run to go up 10-6 forcing Ole Miss to call timeout. The Rebels tied it up at 17, but Tennessee won the next two points to go up 19-17. After a kill by Kate Gibson to pulled the Rebels within one (21-22), the Vols won the final three points to take the set, 25-21, and square the match 1-1.
Coming out of the break, the Rebels took control of the match, hitting .344 in the third set on their way to a 2-1 lead. The Rebels built a 10-6 lead and never looked back, winning 25-13 to put the Vols on their heels. The fourth set was a back and forth affair, with neither team holding more than a three-point lead. At 20-20, the Rebels won four consecutive points on kills from Lexi Thompson, Gibson and Kathryn Cather and a huge block at the net by Cather and Ty Laporte to go up 24-20. Tennessee erased one match point, but an attack error on the next play gave the Rebels the set 25-21 and the match, 3-1.
Quick Hits
• After Friday’s matches, the Rebels moved up to sixth in the SEC standings.
• Ole Miss improved to 7-1 overall and 2-1 in the SEC in four-set matches. They are now 15-1 overall and 4-0 in the SEC when winning the first set.
• The Rebels hit .248 and are now 18-1 overall and 4-0 in the SEC when hitting above .200.
• Ole Miss posted a season-high 13 blocks. Seniors Ty Laporte and Nakeyta Clair had six and five, respectively. Clair broke the school record and now has 388 for her career. Two-time All-American Regina Thomas (2008-11) previously the record (383).
• Four players recorded double-digit kills led by sophomore Kate Gibson’s 14. She recorded her second straight double-double with 15 digs as well, and added three blocks.
• Senior Ty Laporte notched 11 kills on a .333 clip to go with her six blocks. It marked the 18th time in 23 matches and the sixth straight, for Laporte to hit above .300.
• Senior Nakeyta Clair chipped in 11 kills with her five blocks. With her three block assists, Clair recorded her 300th career block assist and needs just four to set the school record (303), held by Regina Thomas.
• Freshman Kathryn Cather finished with 10 kills on a .450 clip to add 10.5 points to the cause.
• Junior Aubrey Edie passed out 42 assists and chipped in four kills, six digs and three blocks.
