Sept. 13, 2012

OXFORD, Miss. – After three early-season tournaments, the Ole Miss volleyball team (6-3) now enters league play on the road Friday and Sunday against Southeastern Conference newcomers Texas A&M and Missouri, respectively.

Ole Miss will face Texas A&M (8-1) on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT in College Station, Texas. The Rebels enter Friday night’s match on a five-match win streak, dropping just a single set en route to winning their sixth straight Magnolia Invitational championship on Saturday.

“It’s exciting to welcome Texas A&M and Missouri to the SEC and it’s exciting that we are one of the teams that gets to welcome them to the conference on the opening weekend of league play,” Ole Miss head coach Joe Getzin said. “These are two quality teams and both of them have respected volleyball programs.”

The Rebels were led in the Magnolia Invitational by tournament MVP Amanda Philpot. The senior setter recorded a triple-double against Rice, passing out 36 assists, digging 14 balls and hammering down 11 kills. Philpot followed up her triple-double against Rice with a double-double against North Dakota, recording a season-high 47 assists to go with her 13 digs.

For Ole Miss, senior libero Ashley Veach has been a defensive stalwart, averaging 5.20 digs per set, the second most in the conference and 32nd most in the country.

On the offensive end, junior outside hitter Kara Morgan and senior right side hitter Allegra Wells have 3.11 and 2.74 kills per set, respectively.

The Aggies enter their first match as an SEC member on a seven-match win streak, with their one loss on the season coming to No. 5 USC, and are receiving votes at No. 33 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. Texas A&M is led offensively by senior right side hitter Alisia Kastmo, who averages 3.37 kills per set. Junior setter Allie Sawatzky facilitates the offense with 9.10 assists per set, while senior libero Megan Pendergast averages 3.75 digs per set on the defensive side.

Missouri (9-2, 1-0 SEC) won its inaugural SEC match Wednesday evening against No. 17 Tennessee, 3-2. The Tigers trailed 2-0 after two sets and were down 20-15 in the third set, but rallied to win the third set 27-25 and each of the next two sets for the dramatic victory.

Offensively, junior outside hitter Lisa Henning paces the Tigers with 4.50 kills per set, receiving passes for many of those kills from junior setter Molly Kreklow, who has a team-high 10.68 assists per match. Sophomore libero Jade Hayes has a team-high 3.34 digs per set for Missouri.

For all Ole Miss volleyball news and information, including daily recaps, live stats and results, go to OleMissSports.com, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissVB and go to Facebook at Ole Miss Volleyball.