Courtesy: University of Mississippi
Cunningham Emerges In Defeat Against No. 19 LSU
11/06/2009 University of Mississippi
OXFORD, Miss. - It was a coming out party of sorts for middle blocker Courtney Cunningham, as the freshman turned in her best performance of the season to help lead the Rebel offense, but it wasn't enough as Ole Miss (8-17, 2-13 SEC) fell to No. 19 LSU (19-5, 13-2 SEC) by a score of 3-0 (16-25, 18-25, 27-29).
Cunningham hit .300 for the match with a season-high nine kills and two blocks as one of three Rebels to hit over the .300 mark for the match. Freshman Whitney Craven added a team-high 15 kills and hit .314, while senior Caitlin Weiss put down 10 kills and hit .348 on the night.
Freshman setter Marielle Oestermeyer came up with 29 assists and a team-leading six digs on the night to help in the Rebels' effort.
"Tonight we improved over the course of the match and as things progressed we really settled in and started to execute," said Ole Miss head coach Joe Getzin. "LSU is a talented team that makes runs and you have to weather those runs to have a chance. We worked on our attack this week and that improvement showed tonight. We have to continue improving on just making that extra play when we need it.
"Courtney Cunningham is feeling more and more comfortable on the floor and that's showing with each match," Getzin said. "It's exciting to see her start coming into the offense more. All of the freshmen have had moments this season where they have really shown what they are capable of doing, and that's exciting for us."
The first set saw LSU get off to a hot start as the Tigers - who hit .609 for the set - jumped out to a 6-0 lead before Ole Miss would call a timeout to regroup. The Rebels would cut the lead to four at 14-10, but could get no closer as the lead proved to be too much to overcome. LSU took the first set 25-16.
Ole Miss reversed the trend in the second set, moving out to an early 5-2 lead on the visiting Tigers. It wouldn't last, however, as LSU used an 8-2 run to move into the lead on the Rebels. The Tigers would hold the advantage the rest of the way, taking the second set 25-18 and moving out to a two set lead on the Rebels.
It was a nip-and-tuck battle to open the third set as the two teams traded scores with neither side gaining a solid offensive rhythm. Ole Miss broke the back-and-forth battle first, moving out to an 8-5 lead before pushing the advantage out to as many as five at 19-14. LSU recovered, however, making its own push, chipping away at the lead until tying the frame at 21.
The two teams again traded scores before LSU moved out to match-point at 24-23. The Rebels fought off three consecutive match points, tying the set at 26 before moving out to set point themselves at 27-26. Ole Miss couldn't close the deal, though, as LSU rattled off three straight points to claim the match with a 29-27 win in the third set.
Ole Miss will have Sunday off before returning to the road next weekend for a pair of contests at Alabama and Mississippi State. The Rebels will take on Alabama on Friday, November 13, at 7 p.m. at the Coleman Auxiliary Volleyball Extension.
Cunningham hit .300 for the match with a season-high nine kills and two blocks as one of three Rebels to hit over the .300 mark for the match. Freshman Whitney Craven added a team-high 15 kills and hit .314, while senior Caitlin Weiss put down 10 kills and hit .348 on the night.
Freshman setter Marielle Oestermeyer came up with 29 assists and a team-leading six digs on the night to help in the Rebels' effort.
"Tonight we improved over the course of the match and as things progressed we really settled in and started to execute," said Ole Miss head coach Joe Getzin. "LSU is a talented team that makes runs and you have to weather those runs to have a chance. We worked on our attack this week and that improvement showed tonight. We have to continue improving on just making that extra play when we need it.
"Courtney Cunningham is feeling more and more comfortable on the floor and that's showing with each match," Getzin said. "It's exciting to see her start coming into the offense more. All of the freshmen have had moments this season where they have really shown what they are capable of doing, and that's exciting for us."
The first set saw LSU get off to a hot start as the Tigers - who hit .609 for the set - jumped out to a 6-0 lead before Ole Miss would call a timeout to regroup. The Rebels would cut the lead to four at 14-10, but could get no closer as the lead proved to be too much to overcome. LSU took the first set 25-16.
Ole Miss reversed the trend in the second set, moving out to an early 5-2 lead on the visiting Tigers. It wouldn't last, however, as LSU used an 8-2 run to move into the lead on the Rebels. The Tigers would hold the advantage the rest of the way, taking the second set 25-18 and moving out to a two set lead on the Rebels.
It was a nip-and-tuck battle to open the third set as the two teams traded scores with neither side gaining a solid offensive rhythm. Ole Miss broke the back-and-forth battle first, moving out to an 8-5 lead before pushing the advantage out to as many as five at 19-14. LSU recovered, however, making its own push, chipping away at the lead until tying the frame at 21.
The two teams again traded scores before LSU moved out to match-point at 24-23. The Rebels fought off three consecutive match points, tying the set at 26 before moving out to set point themselves at 27-26. Ole Miss couldn't close the deal, though, as LSU rattled off three straight points to claim the match with a 29-27 win in the third set.
Ole Miss will have Sunday off before returning to the road next weekend for a pair of contests at Alabama and Mississippi State. The Rebels will take on Alabama on Friday, November 13, at 7 p.m. at the Coleman Auxiliary Volleyball Extension.
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