Volleyball Continues SEC Opening Weekend At No. 24 Auburn

RALLY POINTS
• Ole Miss volleyball continues its opening weekend of SEC play on the road against No. 24 Auburn on Sunday, September 24.
• The Rebels opened the conference slate with a 3-0 sweep over Alabama inside the Gillom Center on Friday. 
• Ole Miss has won two of its last three against Auburn.
• Sasha Ratliff earned a spot on all four of the Rebels’ non-conference tournament teams.
• Cammy Niesen’s 34 digs against Tulsa are the most by a Rebel since 2010. She led the Ole Miss defense as it broke the single match digs record.
• Setter Aly Borellis is dishing out assists at the 13th best rate in the country, averaging 10.90 assists per set this season.
• The middle blocker duo of Payton Brgoch and Sasha Ratliff both rank inside the top 40 nationally in hitting percentage.
• Sasha Ratliff, a two-time All-SEC Team member, was one of 15 student-athletes named to the conference’s preseason team.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS

The Auburn Tigers host the Ole Miss to conclude the opening weekend of conference play in the SEC. After a 10-1 start to the season, the Tigers are receiving national buzz, earning the No. 24 ranking in the AVCA/TARAFLEX Coaches Poll. As a team, the Tigers are ranked 15th in the NCAA in hitting percentage with a solid .289 clip. Fourth-year head coach Brent Crouch returns 2022 SEC All-Freshmen honorees Kendal Kemp, Madison Sheer, and Akasha Anderson, who look to lead the young Tiger team. Pacing the sophomore trio is senior setter Jackie Barrett, who tallies 9.86 assists per set, good for seventh in the SEC. In the backcourt, the Tigers are led by sophomore libero Sarah Morton, who averages 3.14 digs per set, the 10th best mark in the SEC.

SERIES HISTORY

Ole Miss leads the all-time series with Auburn 38-31, with the two schools splitting the last four contests.

LAST MEETING

Ole Miss kept things close with Auburn but was unable to come out on top in close sets, falling 1-3 to the Tigers Friday night at the Gillom Center. Vivian Miller paced Ole Miss offensively with 14 kills in the defeat. 

It was a slow start for Ole Miss, who quickly fell behind 3-12. After calling a timeout to regroup, the Rebels stormed back with a 12-3 run to tie things up at 15 all. Both teams battled the remainder of the set. Ole Miss and Auburn each had chances, getting to set point, but it was the Tigers…