Alabama
4-8 (4-8SEC)
Ole Miss
0-10(0-10SEC)
Alabama Volleyball Rallies for Five-Set Win Saturday at Ole Miss
2/6/2021 3:21:00 PM | Volleyball
The Crimson Tide tallies its most service aces since 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – Trailing 2-1 after three sets, Alabama volleyball powered through to win the fourth and fifth sets, completing the comeback victory in five sets to cap a weekend sweep over Ole Miss.
Alabama's (4-8) and Ole Miss (0-10) were neck-and-neck in the opening set, with nine tie scores including a late one at 22-22 before the Rebels rattled off three unanswered to win, 25-22. The second set was another close one, with neither team holding more than a three-point lead until the Crimson Tide scored four unanswered to lead 20-16. Ole Miss answered back with four of its own to tie it at 20-20 and eventually reached set point, 24-23. After a timeout, the Tide scored back-to-back to lead 25-24 and after reaching set point again two points later, a kill from Kennedy Muckelroy gave Alabama the 27-25 win to even the match.
An early 6-2 run gave the Tide some cushion in the third set but the Rebels quickly stormed back within one as Alabama took a timeout up 17-16. Ole Miss took the lead at 19-18 and reached set point, 24-22, before Alabama swung it back to 25-24. The Rebels fought back to reach set point three more times before winning, 29-27. Set four was another back-and-forth contest, with neither team holding larger than a two-point lead until Alabama moved ahead 22-19 late and Ole Miss called a timeout. The Tide held on to win, 25-20, and force a fifth set. The fifth was also a close affair, with Alabama holding on to win, 16-14, and taking the match.
Alabama generated plenty of points, tying a season-high 65 kills and posting 10 aces, its most since earning 11 against Furman on Sept. 9, 2017 and its most in SEC play since Oct. 17, 2008 against Georgia. Four players finished with double-digit kills, led by Abby Marjama with 19, while Taylor Drapp led the pressure at the line with five aces. Marjama added 11 digs for a double-double, as did Kendyl Reaugh (16 kills, 10 digs).
STAT LEADERS
- Kills | Abbby Marjama - 19
- Assists | Emily Janek - 37
- Aces | Taylor Drapp - 5
- Digs | Madelyn St. Germain - 12
- Blocks | Alyiah Wells, Emily Janek - 3
SCORES BY SET
- 1st | Ole Miss 25, Alabama 22
- 2nd | Alabama 27, Ole Miss 25
- 3rd | Ole Miss 29, Alabama 27
- 4th | Alabama 25, Ole Miss 20
- 5th | Alabama 16, Ole Miss 14
MATCH NOTES
- After not playing any five-set matches during the fall, three of the Tide's four contests this spring have gone to five sets, with Alabama winning two of them.
- Alabama is now 47-26 all-time vs. Ole Miss, including a 13-16 record in Oxford
- The Tide's 10 aces is its highest total since scoring 11 vs. Furman on Sept. 9, 2017 and its highest total in SEC play since earning 11 on Oct. 17, 2008 vs. Georgia
- Today was the first career start for freshman Victoria Schmer
UP NEXT
- Alabama at Arkansas – Fayetteville, Ark. – Barnhill Arena
- Friday, Feb. 12 – 7 p.m. CT
- Saturday, Feb. 13 – 4 p.m. CT
For the latest information on the team, follow @AlabamaVBall on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Volleyball on Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
