Alabama
Ole Miss
Volleyball Downs Ole Miss in Three Sets
11/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 14, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Brooks Webster and Alyssa Meuth combined for 29 kills as Alabama picked up the three-set sweep against Ole Miss Friday night at the CAVE. With the win, the Crimson Tide improves to 14-11 this season and 7-9 in Southeastern Conference play, while the Rebels slip to 11-14 overall and 7-9 in league action.
"I'm extremely proud right now," said Head Coach Judy Green. "I thought they really narrowed their focus when it came time for the lights to go on. Tonight we beat a very good team. What we are developing right now is a good thing on the volleyball court. I think that tonight we got great balance offensively. I think that's a great credit to our passers and to Stephanie Riley for being able to pick apart their defense. I thought she did an outstanding job."
Alabama earned the two-set advantage following a pair of 25-20 wins in the first two sets and sealed the victory with an exciting 26-24 win in the third. Offensively, the Tide was led by Webster, who tallied 15 kills, and Meuth, who added 14 of her own. Stephanie Riley was the leading distributer on the evening with 45 assists, while Amy Pauly notched 19 digs to top all defenders. For the match, Alabama hit .319 percent from the court.
Meuth got Alabama off to a quick start, racking up a kill on the first play and putting the Tide on the board to open the set. In the first, she collected five kills with zero hitting errors. The set was close early until a kill by Webster gave the Tide the lead at 13-12. Alabama didn't trail the rest of the way and won 25-20.
In the second, Meuth put the Tide on the board first again, with a kill on an assist from Riley. Once again the score remained close until a Calli Johnson kill gave Alabama the lead at 16-14. The Tide won the second set 25-20, ending on another Meuth kill.
The Rebels struck first in the third, but Alabama responded. Lindsey Buteyn earned a kill, one of her eight, to tie the set at 1-1. Ole Miss had the lead at 19-15 before the Tide started to swing the momentum its way. A Pauly service ace got Alabama within two points at 20-18. Meuth scored another timely kill to tie the set at 24-24. The Tide rattled off the final two points to take the set and match.
"I really think we have come together here late in the season," added Green. "That's the way you want it to be. This late in the season, that's when championships are won and lost, right here."
The Tide returns to action Sunday when it hosts Arkansas in the CAVE. Opening serve is slated for 1:30 p.m. (CST).
