University of Georgia Athletics
Wednesday, March 24
Athens, Ga.
6:00 p.m.
University of Georgia
6-13,6-13SEC
3
vs
2
Ole Miss
1-18,1-18SEC
1
2
3
4
5
F
Ole Miss
25
17
20
25
11
2
Georgia
18
25
25
22
15
3
Photo by: Tony Walsh
Georgia Outlasts Ole Miss in Five Sets
March 24, 2021 | Volleyball
ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Georgia volleyball defeated Ole Miss in five sets Wednesday evening at Stegeman Coliseum (18-25, 25-17, 25-20, 22-25, 15-11).
After falling behind 1-0 in the match, Georgia (6-13) worked to take a 2-1 lead. Ole Miss (1-18) won the fourth set, forcing a fifth and final set at Stegeman. Georgia never trailed in the final set and won the match.
A trio of Bulldogs topped the double-digit kill mark Wednesday. Junior Mallory Hernandez led the way with 14 kills and a .591 hitting clip. Fellow junior Sage Naves tallied a season-best 12 kills. Sophomore Kacie Evans picked up her sixth double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs.
Defensively, redshirt-junior Libero Claire Rothenberger recorded 12 digs. On the net, sophomore Meghan Froemming and freshman Phoebe Awoleye each had four blocks.
Freshman Mallory Downing picked up three service aces in the contest. As a team, Georgia laid down nine aces.
A very early 6-1 Rebel run in the opening frame set the tone for Ole Miss to start the match, 7-3. Shortly thereafter, Georgia went on a 6-1 run of its own to tie the set at 13. With Georgia trailing 18-16, four-straight from Ole Miss put the Rebels in arm's length of the set. They wrapped the opening set with three-straight, 25-18, to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Down 3-2 in the second, a 6-1 run for Georgia put the Bulldogs in front 8-4. Georgia was able to hold the advantage the remainder of the set, closing the frame by winning five of the last seven rallies, 25-17, and evening up the match, 1-1.
Once again, the Bulldogs used a scoring run early in the third to capture a 12-8 lead. With Georgia ahead 18-15, Ole Miss won three-straight to tie the set. Tied at 19, Georgia won six of the next seven to win the set 25-20 and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
An early 5-0 run for Ole Miss in the fourth prompted a quick timeout from the Georgia bench, 8-4. The Bulldogs stayed close behind the Rebels but trailed the rest of the set. Ole Miss won 25-22 to force the fifth and final set.
While the beginning of the fifth set remained close, Georgia never trailed. After exchanging points, Georgia was finally able to side out and begin pulling away, 6-4. Ahead by one, Georgia used three-straight to open a 12-8 lead. The Bulldogs stayed the course and won the set 15-11 to win the match in five.
Georgia and Ole Miss battle again Thursday at 6 p.m. at Stegeman Coliseum. It will be Georgia's final home match of 2020-21.
Head Coach Tom Black
On what he would like to see from today carried into the match tomorrow…
"I thought we passed really well, and our middle and right side production was really strong. We want to carry those forward."
On the quick turnaround before tomorrow's match…
"Obviously, recovery is the big one, but just our serving and our blocking needs a massive upgrade. We weren't happy at all with that tonight. We need to get that going, and we need to be a lot better assisting and producing on our end and stopping them on their end. There's lots of areas to upgrade. You have to find a way no matter how things are going, and I thought the girls did a really good job of that. That speaks to their fight."
Junior Sage Naves
On what the team needs to improve on in tomorrow's match…
"I think we can certainly improve on out of system balls, both in our attack and our block on out of system balls. I was definitely struggling quite a bit when it came to blocking those out of system balls, and I think that's something our team has a big strength in. Obviously, our team has to get some better sets for our outsides when it comes to out of system balls to let them swing it in. I think just out of system balls overall, both offensive and defensive."
On how getting a win felt for the team…
"It felt good. I definitely didn't have any doubt that that was going to be the case. I think that we should have tied that up in four sets, however we're always excited to get the opportunity to compete."
After falling behind 1-0 in the match, Georgia (6-13) worked to take a 2-1 lead. Ole Miss (1-18) won the fourth set, forcing a fifth and final set at Stegeman. Georgia never trailed in the final set and won the match.
A trio of Bulldogs topped the double-digit kill mark Wednesday. Junior Mallory Hernandez led the way with 14 kills and a .591 hitting clip. Fellow junior Sage Naves tallied a season-best 12 kills. Sophomore Kacie Evans picked up her sixth double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs.
Defensively, redshirt-junior Libero Claire Rothenberger recorded 12 digs. On the net, sophomore Meghan Froemming and freshman Phoebe Awoleye each had four blocks.
Freshman Mallory Downing picked up three service aces in the contest. As a team, Georgia laid down nine aces.
A very early 6-1 Rebel run in the opening frame set the tone for Ole Miss to start the match, 7-3. Shortly thereafter, Georgia went on a 6-1 run of its own to tie the set at 13. With Georgia trailing 18-16, four-straight from Ole Miss put the Rebels in arm's length of the set. They wrapped the opening set with three-straight, 25-18, to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Down 3-2 in the second, a 6-1 run for Georgia put the Bulldogs in front 8-4. Georgia was able to hold the advantage the remainder of the set, closing the frame by winning five of the last seven rallies, 25-17, and evening up the match, 1-1.
Once again, the Bulldogs used a scoring run early in the third to capture a 12-8 lead. With Georgia ahead 18-15, Ole Miss won three-straight to tie the set. Tied at 19, Georgia won six of the next seven to win the set 25-20 and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
An early 5-0 run for Ole Miss in the fourth prompted a quick timeout from the Georgia bench, 8-4. The Bulldogs stayed close behind the Rebels but trailed the rest of the set. Ole Miss won 25-22 to force the fifth and final set.
While the beginning of the fifth set remained close, Georgia never trailed. After exchanging points, Georgia was finally able to side out and begin pulling away, 6-4. Ahead by one, Georgia used three-straight to open a 12-8 lead. The Bulldogs stayed the course and won the set 15-11 to win the match in five.
Georgia and Ole Miss battle again Thursday at 6 p.m. at Stegeman Coliseum. It will be Georgia's final home match of 2020-21.
Head Coach Tom Black
On what he would like to see from today carried into the match tomorrow…
"I thought we passed really well, and our middle and right side production was really strong. We want to carry those forward."
On the quick turnaround before tomorrow's match…
"Obviously, recovery is the big one, but just our serving and our blocking needs a massive upgrade. We weren't happy at all with that tonight. We need to get that going, and we need to be a lot better assisting and producing on our end and stopping them on their end. There's lots of areas to upgrade. You have to find a way no matter how things are going, and I thought the girls did a really good job of that. That speaks to their fight."
Junior Sage Naves
On what the team needs to improve on in tomorrow's match…
"I think we can certainly improve on out of system balls, both in our attack and our block on out of system balls. I was definitely struggling quite a bit when it came to blocking those out of system balls, and I think that's something our team has a big strength in. Obviously, our team has to get some better sets for our outsides when it comes to out of system balls to let them swing it in. I think just out of system balls overall, both offensive and defensive."
On how getting a win felt for the team…
"It felt good. I definitely didn't have any doubt that that was going to be the case. I think that we should have tied that up in four sets, however we're always excited to get the opportunity to compete."
Team Stats
OM
UGa
Kills
52
59
Errors
23
24
Attempts
139
158
Hitting %
.209
.222
Points
71
76
Assists
50
54
Aces
5
9
Blocks
14
8
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ VolleyballOPP
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballGeorgia Volleyball vs LSU - Postgame Recap
Wednesday, November 12
Georgia Volleyball vs. Auburn Postgame Recap
Sunday, November 02
Georgia Volleyball vs Vanderbilt Video Recap
Saturday, October 25
Georgia Volleyball vs Mississippi State - Postgame Recap
Sunday, October 19