Ole Miss Drops Tough Third Set, Falls 3-1 To South Carolina

Senior Kara Morgan logs career-high 20-dig performance

Photo courtesy of Joshua McCoy / Ole Miss Athletics

OXFORD, Miss. – Sophomore Ty Laporte notched her fifth-straight double-digit kill performance, and senior Kara Morgan logged a career-high 20 digs, but the Ole Miss volleyball team dropped a tough third set and eventually fell 3-1 (20-25, 25-21, 23-25, 18-25) to South Carolina on Sunday afternoon at the Gillom Sports Center.

With Ole Miss leading 23-22 late in the third set, South Carolina called timeout to try to put the Rebels’ 4-0 run on ice. The Gamecocks’ plan worked as South Carolina scored the final three points of the set to win 25-23 and take a 2-1 lead in the match.

“It played a huge role (in the match),” said Ole Miss head coach Joe Getzin of the importance of the third set. “The girls were doing a good job of battling and they felt like all that hard work was for nothing. … It’s a huge difference being down a set or up at set.”

Junior Marie-Pierre Bakima had a team-high 12 kills for Ole Miss (11-10, 1-7 Southeastern Conference). Freshman setter Aubrey Edie passed out a team-high 43 assists, and sophomore Nakeyta Clair had four block assists. It was the third time in the last five matches Edie has passed out over 40 assists.

After a 25-20 loss in the first set, Ole Miss rebounded to win the second set 25-21, holding the SEC’s kills leader, Juliette Thévenin, to three kills and a -.062 hitting percentage. Edie passed out a dozen assists in the set, while Morgan and junior libero Cara Fisher each had seven digs defensively.

The third set swung the match back in the Gamecocks’ favor with a late 3-0 rally to win 25-23 and take the crucial 2-1 lead in the match.

In the final set, South Carolina (11-9, 3-5 SEC) raced out to a 7-3 lead before the Rebels called timeout to subdue the Gamecocks’ attack. The Rebels went on a 4-0 run late in the set to cut into South Carolina’s lead, but the visiting Gamecocks held on to win 25-18 and take the match 3-1.

Twenty-one matches into the season, the Rebels will now get an off week before taking the court again Nov. 1 at No. 18 Missouri.

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