University of Georgia Athletics
Wednesday, October 18
Athens, Ga.
8 p.m.
University of Georgia
12-7,3-4SEC
3
vs
2
Ole Miss
8-12,2-7SEC
1
2
3
4
5
F
Ole Miss
25
23
22
25
9
2
Georgia
23
25
25
22
15
3
Staunton Leads Georgia to Five-Set Win over Ole Miss
October 19, 2023 | Volleyball
ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Georgia volleyball team picked up a five-set victory against the Ole Miss Rebels Wednesday evening at Stegeman Coliseum (23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 22-25, 15-9).
Winning its second match in a row, Georgia improves to 12-7 on the season and 3-4 in SEC play.
Graduate Erica Staunton shattered her season high, setting a new mark with a team-best 17 kills. Sophie Fischer followed with 16 kills while Kacie Evans recorded her second-straight double-double with 16 kills and 13 digs.
Libero Bailey Cox led the Dogs with 14 digs. Setter Clara Brower picked up her eighth double-double with 47 assists and 10 digs.
Freshman Ceci Gooch put up a team-best five kills while Fischer had four. Fischer laid down three aces in the match.
Georgia had to play catchup the entirety of the opening set after falling behind 5-0 early in the frame. Georgia chipped away at the Ole Miss (8-12, 2-7) lead cutting it to one at 9-8. The Bulldogs finally overcame the early deficit, tying the set at 17. Tied at 23, a Rebel kill, and Bulldog error sealed the deal for Ole Miss, 25-23. Five of Evans' kills came in the opener on a .714 hitting clip.
Once again, the Rebels found a five-point lead early in the second, 9-4, and once again Georgia played catchup much of the set, eventually tying it at 20. Back-to-back Rebel errors gave the Dogs a 23-21 advantage. Taking advantage of Ole Miss miscues, the Bulldogs held on to win the set 25-23, knotting the match.
Georgia found itself working to overcome a five-point deficit again in the third, down 15-10. Like set two, it wasn't until the set was tied at 20, did Georgia erase the Rebel lead then take a 21-20 lead on a Cox service ace. The Dogs didn't trail again en route to a 25-22 set three win and a 2-1 lead in the match.
Set four was the tightest of the match as the score was tied 15 times in a back-and-forth battle. Knotted at 20, an Evans error and a Rebel kill put Ole Miss in front 22-20 and Georgia called timeout. Ole Miss held on to knot the match, 25-22, and force a fifth and final set. Staunton and Evans matched five kills each in the fourth.
Tied at 6 in the fifth, Georgia strung together four-straight points to find a 10-6 lead in the race to 15 points. The Dogs kept their foot on the gas, rolling to a 15-9 set five win and the 3-2 match win over Ole Miss. Georgia hit .526 in the fifth, committing only one attack error.
The Bulldogs are back on the road for one match at Texas A&M Sunday. First serve is slated for 2 p.m., ET, from College Station.
Head Coach Tom Black
On the team's overall performance and Erica Staunton's play in Wednesday's match...
"I was really happy we pulled it out. I thought the team got better as the match went on, and Erica was huge for us. She really bailed us out on some really tough swings, so I was excited to watch her play that good."
On how the team overcame deficits throughout the match...
"I thought we definitely got caught on our heels, and you have to give Ole Miss some credit on that. I was happy with how we responded. Obviously, we did enough. I thought our passing stabilized and we were able to put some service pressure on them, but the other girls, they just fought. Sometimes the game isn't going as clean or as pretty as you want and you still have to find a way, so I thought our team did a good job of that."
#18 Erica Staunton | OH | Gr.
On leading team in kills tonight and connection with Clara Brower…
"I think just letting my teammates trust me has been the biggest thing. Especially being in a newcomer. So, it really has been just great, getting to have a good connection these past couple of games. Just knowing that Clara really trusts me to toss me up an out-of-system ball, or in-system, and it has felt really great. I feel like we really are getting into our groove.
On the start and getting off to a good start…
"It was definitely a little different. I kind of tried to approach each game, whether I am coming off the bench or starting, my mindset is to do whatever is best for my team. Step up, in that since, and make sure I am being aggressive, because that is the energy that we have as Georgia Volleyball. Which is if we're going to make a mistake, make it aggressive mistake. Chasing every game the same, if I am coming off the bench or starting the set, just whatever my team needs me to do."
#21 Krista Blakely | RS | Gr.
On her role and how her play fits into the team's play style...
"I think I'm happy that I can come in and provide energy when needed. I feel like everyone instills a lot of confidence in me to feel like I can come in and make an impact, so I know whether I'm starting or whether I'm not starting that I go in and do something. I feel good about that."
On how the team learned from previous five-set losses to find success tonight...
"I feel like the first two were matches that we knew we were points away from winning. This time when we were going to five, we were like, 'This is our chance to really prove to ourselves that we can push through,' so I'm really proud of us for doing that."
Winning its second match in a row, Georgia improves to 12-7 on the season and 3-4 in SEC play.
Graduate Erica Staunton shattered her season high, setting a new mark with a team-best 17 kills. Sophie Fischer followed with 16 kills while Kacie Evans recorded her second-straight double-double with 16 kills and 13 digs.
Libero Bailey Cox led the Dogs with 14 digs. Setter Clara Brower picked up her eighth double-double with 47 assists and 10 digs.
Freshman Ceci Gooch put up a team-best five kills while Fischer had four. Fischer laid down three aces in the match.
Georgia had to play catchup the entirety of the opening set after falling behind 5-0 early in the frame. Georgia chipped away at the Ole Miss (8-12, 2-7) lead cutting it to one at 9-8. The Bulldogs finally overcame the early deficit, tying the set at 17. Tied at 23, a Rebel kill, and Bulldog error sealed the deal for Ole Miss, 25-23. Five of Evans' kills came in the opener on a .714 hitting clip.
Once again, the Rebels found a five-point lead early in the second, 9-4, and once again Georgia played catchup much of the set, eventually tying it at 20. Back-to-back Rebel errors gave the Dogs a 23-21 advantage. Taking advantage of Ole Miss miscues, the Bulldogs held on to win the set 25-23, knotting the match.
Georgia found itself working to overcome a five-point deficit again in the third, down 15-10. Like set two, it wasn't until the set was tied at 20, did Georgia erase the Rebel lead then take a 21-20 lead on a Cox service ace. The Dogs didn't trail again en route to a 25-22 set three win and a 2-1 lead in the match.
Set four was the tightest of the match as the score was tied 15 times in a back-and-forth battle. Knotted at 20, an Evans error and a Rebel kill put Ole Miss in front 22-20 and Georgia called timeout. Ole Miss held on to knot the match, 25-22, and force a fifth and final set. Staunton and Evans matched five kills each in the fourth.
Tied at 6 in the fifth, Georgia strung together four-straight points to find a 10-6 lead in the race to 15 points. The Dogs kept their foot on the gas, rolling to a 15-9 set five win and the 3-2 match win over Ole Miss. Georgia hit .526 in the fifth, committing only one attack error.
The Bulldogs are back on the road for one match at Texas A&M Sunday. First serve is slated for 2 p.m., ET, from College Station.
Head Coach Tom Black
On the team's overall performance and Erica Staunton's play in Wednesday's match...
"I was really happy we pulled it out. I thought the team got better as the match went on, and Erica was huge for us. She really bailed us out on some really tough swings, so I was excited to watch her play that good."
On how the team overcame deficits throughout the match...
"I thought we definitely got caught on our heels, and you have to give Ole Miss some credit on that. I was happy with how we responded. Obviously, we did enough. I thought our passing stabilized and we were able to put some service pressure on them, but the other girls, they just fought. Sometimes the game isn't going as clean or as pretty as you want and you still have to find a way, so I thought our team did a good job of that."
#18 Erica Staunton | OH | Gr.
On leading team in kills tonight and connection with Clara Brower…
"I think just letting my teammates trust me has been the biggest thing. Especially being in a newcomer. So, it really has been just great, getting to have a good connection these past couple of games. Just knowing that Clara really trusts me to toss me up an out-of-system ball, or in-system, and it has felt really great. I feel like we really are getting into our groove.
On the start and getting off to a good start…
"It was definitely a little different. I kind of tried to approach each game, whether I am coming off the bench or starting, my mindset is to do whatever is best for my team. Step up, in that since, and make sure I am being aggressive, because that is the energy that we have as Georgia Volleyball. Which is if we're going to make a mistake, make it aggressive mistake. Chasing every game the same, if I am coming off the bench or starting the set, just whatever my team needs me to do."
#21 Krista Blakely | RS | Gr.
On her role and how her play fits into the team's play style...
"I think I'm happy that I can come in and provide energy when needed. I feel like everyone instills a lot of confidence in me to feel like I can come in and make an impact, so I know whether I'm starting or whether I'm not starting that I go in and do something. I feel good about that."
On how the team learned from previous five-set losses to find success tonight...
"I feel like the first two were matches that we knew we were points away from winning. This time when we were going to five, we were like, 'This is our chance to really prove to ourselves that we can push through,' so I'm really proud of us for doing that."
Team Stats
OM
UGa
Kills
66
63
Errors
25
22
Attempts
167
172
Hitting %
.246
.238
Points
82.0
78.0
Assists
64
58
Aces
5
6
Blocks
11
9
Game Leaders
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
16
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
16
Aces
3
Blocks
4
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
RS
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH/OPP
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