The Ole Miss volleyball program was unable to get offensive momentum going, falling 3-0 to Mississippi State on Friday night at the Gillom Athletics Performance Center.
Shayla Meyer paced the Rebels (8-13, 2-8 SEC) with seven kills and three blocks, but the Rebels could not overcome the Bulldogs (16-5, 6-4 SEC). Ryea Jackson added four kills and five blocks in the loss.
Both sides struggled to gain footing in the opening set, as neither side went on to hit higher than .100 in the frame. The Rebel defense shined with multiple blocks from Keirstyn Carlton to keep the set close at 10-9. However, the Bulldogs extended the advantage into the technical timeout, leading 15-9 and would not look back, despite two late kills and a block from Jaidyn Hartsfield, winning 25-17.
The Bulldogs took the momentum from the first set into the second, quickly taking an 8-2 lead. However, the Rebels showed fight, rallying to cut the lead to 11-10. Jackson was the catalyst of the 8-3 run, tallying a block and service ace. Jackson and Hartsfield fought to keep the set close, as Mississippi State maintained a mild 18-16 advantage. Ultimately, the Bulldogs would create some late results, pulling away to win the set 25-18.
Once again, the Bulldogs surged to a quick 6-0 start, before Meyer broke up the momentum with a kill. Meyer and Carlton helped the Rebels push back to a 13-9 deficit, headlined by a solo block from Carlton, but the Rebels would get no closer in the set. Meyer added four kills and a block in the set, but the visitors would secure the match, winning 25-16.
The Rebels are back in action at the Gillom Athletics Performance Center on Sunday, hosting LSU for a 2 p.m. CT clash. The match will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.