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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
17-6, 11-3SEC
South Carolina
5-18, 2-11SEC
Rebels Rebound, Down South Carolina 3-1
10/31/2010 | Volleyball
Oct. 31, 2010
OXFORD, Miss. -- It was a hard-fought match with a gritty performance from several upperclassman, but the Rebels prevailed as Ole Miss (17-6, 11-3 SEC) defeated South Carolina (5-18, 2-11 SEC) on Sunday by a score of 3-1 (25-21 25-16, 20-25, 25-23).
Miranda Kitts provided a big spark to the Rebels, posting 11 kills and putting down eight blocks - including four solo blocks - to help push Ole Miss to the win. Allegra Wells put down a team-high 12 kills to lead the offense. Regina Thomas continued to convert efficiently, hitting .438 with eight kills and four blocks.
Junior setter Emily Kvitle led the back row defense with 18 digs, while three other Rebels notched double-digit digs, including Amanda Philpot who recorded a double-double with 41 assists and 12 digs.
"We got good senior leadership out of Miranda today," said Ole Miss head coach Joe Getzin. "The 12 blocks as a team was good for us. It's the part of the season where you have to dig deeper and play harder and sharper. We have to find a way to respond better and have to continue to grow as a team if we're going to meet our goals this season."
The Rebels and Gamecocks found themselves in a pitched battle to open the match as the first set saw the two squads trade scores through the early portions of the frame. With the Rebels down 13-12, Ole Miss got back-to-back kills from Whitney Craven and a block from Philpot and Thomas to put the home team up 15-13 and send South Carolina into a timeout. The Rebels never trailed from there, pushing out to a 25-21 win in the first set.
The second set was more of the same as South Carolina scored first and the Rebels had to fight back. With the Gamecocks up 10-9, Ole Miss' Wells put down back-to-back kills and Thomas added the exclamation point with a kill of her own to put the Rebels up 12-9 and push Carolina into a timeout. Ole Miss never trailed again and claimed the second set 25-16.
South Carolina responded in the third set, using three consecutive service aces to open the frame and take a lead on the Rebels. Knocked back on their heels, the Rebels couldn't figure out an answer to the South Carolina attack and dropped the third frame 25-20.
Ole Miss came out swinging to open the fourth set, pushing out to a 6-2 lead and sending South Carolina into a timeout. The Gamecocks answered out of the break, putting together a rally and tying the set at 10 before the teams began trading scores until Carolina grabbed a two-point edge at 21-19 and sent Ole Miss into a timeout.
The Rebels answered with their own run to grab a 23-22 lead and push the Gamecocks into a second timeout, but momentum was on the side of Ole Miss as the Rebels closed out the match with a 25-23 win in set four.
Ole Miss returns to action on Friday with the first of four straight road matches when the Rebels will take on Arkansas at 7 p.m. at Barnhill Arena. Fans can follow the action online at www.OleMissSports.com.
