Alabama
Mississippi
Volleyball Drops Five Setter to Mississippi
10/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 24, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The volleyball team lost a five-set heartbreaker (28-26, 19-25, 23-25, 25-19, 15-10) Sunday to Mississippi despite double-double performances from senior Alyssa Meuth and sophomore Kayla Fitterer. With the loss, the Crimson Tide falls to 9-12 on the season and 1-10 against Southeastern Conference opponents, while the Rebels improve to 16-5 overall and 10-2 versus league foes.
"I thought we played with a lot of competitive spirit," Alabama head coach Judy Green said. "This was the first time we pushed a good team to a fifth set this season. Unfortunately we were unable to get any breaks, and I told the team after the match we have to create opportunities to get those breaks."
Meuth led all attackers in the match with a career-high 23 kills and added 12 digs for the first double-double of her career. Fitterer followed closely behind with 19 kills and a career-best 20 digs for her sixth double-double of the season and seventh of her career. Sophomore Kelsey Anderson had a match-high 28 digs, while senior Calli Johnson had a hand in four of Alabama's six blocks and added 10 digs.
"I thought Alyssa was spectacular in this match," Green added. "She played like a veteran senior, and accepted a new role today. I was also very proud of Kayla Fitterer for having such a complete match all around."
The Tide went on an early run in the first to take an 8-4 lead that forced Mississippi to burn a timeout. Alabama took its largest lead of the set moments later when it jumped in front by six, however the Rebels would steadily work their way back to tie the first on two occasions before eventually pulling on top 20-19. The duration of the frame went back and forth before a pair of Mississippi kills awarded the first to the Rebels 28-26.
Meuth came out swinging in the second helping Alabama to a 3-0 lead rather quickly. The Tide continued to outscore Mississippi and led by as many as seven in the set. The Rebels avoided three set points but would commit an attack error with the score set at 24-19 to give Alabama the win heading into intermission.
Mississippi controlled the early parts of the third before a 6-2 run put the Tide ahead 11-10. From there, Alabama would not give up the lead despite a late run by the Rebels. After being down 20-14, Mississippi came back and pulled within one of the Tide at 23-22 and 24-23. A pivotal Fitterer kill on the final play gave Alabama a 25-23 win putting the Tide up 2-1 in the match.
Back-to-back kills, one from redshirt sophomore Leigh Moyer and the other from Fitterer, gave Alabama an early lead in the fourth, but the Rebels would soon pull ahead following a Tide attack error. Mississippi steadily distanced itself from the Tide, but Alabama battled back to tie the frame at 18-18. The Rebels responded to the Tide run and outscored Alabama 7-1 down the stretch to win the set 25-19.
The fifth set started off close until Mississippi rattled off a series of points for a 10-7 lead. Alabama cut its deficit to two twice, but was unable to get any closer as the Rebels took the set 15-10.
Despite the loss, the Tide led in kills (70-67), assists (65-60), service aces (5-4) and digs (102-91). The Rebels did, however, side out slightly better than Alabama and collected double the amount of blocks (12.0-6.0).
Next up, the Tide hits the road to take on Arkansas and LSU. Alabama will face the Razorbacks on Friday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m., while Sunday's match with the Tigers is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m. CT.
