Alabama
Ole Miss
Volleyball Nets Win Against Ole Miss
10/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 12, 2008
OXFORD, Miss. - The volleyball team rolled past Ole Miss 3-1 Sunday afternoon at the Gillom Sports Center. With the win, the Crimson Tide stands at 10-6 on the season and 3-4 in the Southeastern Conference, while the loss puts the Rebels at 8-8 overall and 4-3 in conference play.
"This weekend our success was based on our week of preparation in practice," said head coach Judy Green. "That is exactly what we need to be successful. Our coaching staff is very proud of the team's performances."
Calli Johnson, Stephanie Riley and Brooks Webster each had double-double performances in the match. Johnson netted a career-high 11 kills and 11 digs, Riley dished out 29 assists and scooped up 14 digs, and Webster tallied a match-high 20 kills and 10 digs. Amy Pauly led Alabama on defense with a season-best 31 digs.
Riley delivered a service ace to open the match putting Alabama on the board first. Ole Miss answered with three straight points to take the 3-1 lead. The Rebels continued to build on their lead going ahead by as many as four, but the Tide rallied back midway through the set to tie the score 13-13. Webster's second kill of the set put Alabama in front 15-14. Ole Miss would tie it up on five occasions and eventually took the lead late 23-22. The Rebels were one point away from securing the set, but kills from Alyssa Meuth, Johnson and Webster awarded the set to the Tide 26-24.
Meuth came out with a big swing tallying the first kill and point of the second. Ole Miss mirrored what it did in the first set scoring the next three points to go ahead 3-1. Alabama tied it up four plays later before taking the 5-4 edge off a block from Lindsey Buteyn and Elizabeth Salstrand. After five ties, the Rebels pulled in front 12-11 and would fail to give up the lead for the duration of the set.
Ashley Frazier laid down a kill to open the third giving the Tide lead. Alabama was able to build a nice buffer early on in the set off an 8-3 run. The Tide continued to roll throughout never allowing Ole Miss to come within four points of the lead.
Alabama trailed at the start of the fourth, but stayed close and took control of the board off a kill from Buteyn. The Tide went on to score the next four points giving it the lead at 12-7. Alabama would not give up the advantage for the rest of the set.
The Tide returns home for a pair of conference matchups next weekend against Georgia and LSU. Alabama hosts the Bulldogs Friday, Oct. 17 at 7:00 p.m. (CST) and the Tigers Sunday, Oct. 19 at 1:30 p.m. (CST).
