University of Tennessee Athletics
LADY VOL VOLLEYBALL WINS FIVE-GAMER OVER OLE MISS
October 18, 2002 | Volleyball
Oct. 18, 2002
OXFORD, Miss.
The University of Tennessee Lady Vol volleyball team won its seventh straight contest with Ole Miss Friday night, defeating the Lady Rebels, 3-2 (30-21, 24-30, 30-20, 30-32, 15-12), in Oxford, Miss. Tennessee moved to 14-6 on the year with the win and 3-4 in the SEC, while Ole Miss dropped to 9-11 and 2-6 in conference play.
In the first game, neither squad proved capable of building more than a two-point advantage over the first 30 points. Up by just one at 16-15, the Lady Vols made a run, taking five of the next six for a 21-16 lead. Senior outside hitter Kelli Scott increased the Orange and White's lead to 24-17 when she blasted her third kill of the frame and then ripped off a blistering serve that Ole Miss rookie outside hitter Katherine Jensen simply could not handle. Tennessee went on to win game one by a 30-21 count. UT senior outside hitter Janelle Hester tallied five kills during the first game, while a trio of Lady Vols, Scott, sophomore right side hitter Whitney Gifford and freshman middle blocker Kristen Andre, recorded three kills.
With the score knotted 8-8 in the second game, UT went on a 5-0 run behind the serving of Hester, who notched two service aces during that time. The Lady Rebels, however, would not go down without a fight, putting the game at a stalemate, 17-17, after a hitting error by Andre. Tennessee regained the lead, 21-18, after a kill by Hester, but Ole Miss charged back and eventually stole the advantage, 23-22, with a combined block by freshman and senior middle blockers Rachel Refenes and Erin Newsom. The Lady Vols tied the frame once again on the next point thanks to a kill by sophomore middle blocker Michelle Piantadosi, but the game belonged to Ole Miss from there. The Lady Rebels took seven of the next eight to triumph in game two, 30-24. Hester recorded five more kills in the second frame for her 17th double-digit kill performance of the year.
Things looked bleak early in the third game when the Lady Vols fell behind 8-4, but UT managed to win the next four points, capped by consecutive kills from Piantadosi. With Ole Miss leading 10-9, the Big Orange exploded behind the serving of freshman outside hitter Jasmine Fullove, with much of the damage being inflicted by Piantadosi. The Boca Raton, Fla., native recorded four kills during Tennessee's astounding 12-0 scoring streak. The Lady Vols went on to win the third frame, 30-20. Piantadosi concluded game three with seven kills on 18 attempts. Andre also pitched in five kills of her own to help the UT cause.
The fourth game was a dogfight, with neither team building more than a two-point lead for most of the frame. Tennessee held a 21-19 advantage after an errant hit by Refenes, but Ole Miss made a charge once again and took a 26-23 lead. The Lady Vols responded with a comeback of their own, tying up the game, 29-29, after Scott and Andre combined for a block on the Lady Rebels. During the ensuing points, however, Tennessee committed two costly service errors, giving Ole Miss two golden opportunities to send the match to a fifth game. The Lady Rebels failed on their first try, but capitalized on the second and won game four, 32-20.
The Lady Vols found themselves in a hole from the outset of the decisive fifth game and switched benches trailing, 8-4. Tennessee roared back and won the next three points, two of which were off assisted blocks by Gifford and Fullove. UT still found itself in a deficit with the score 10-8, but a kill by Piantadosi sparked the Lady Vols on another run. The Orange and White went on to win five straight points for a 14-10 advantage and fittingly, Piantadosi finished off the Lady Rebels with a slam dunk-like spike for the 15-12 win.
Piantadosi ended the match with a career-high 25 kills and 65 attacks. Hester posted 22 kills for her third straight 20-plus kill performance and her fourth in the Lady Vols' last four matches. Andre chipped in 12 kills and four blocks, and Gifford threw down six kills and came up with 11 digs. Freshman setter Julie Knytych gave another impressive all-around outing with 55 assists, seven digs and six kills. Fellow rookie, libero Morgan Miltner, dug 18 balls for the Lady Vols as well.
"Michelle and Janelle kept us in the match tonight," said UT Head Coach Rob Patrick. "They gave us a chance to regroup on defense, and once we began serving consistently, we were able to get the job done."
Tennessee will continue its stay in Mississippi this weekend when the Lady Vols head to Starkville for a showdown with the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Sunday, Oct. 20, at 2 p.m. (CT). UT has won the last five meetings with MSU and leads the all-time series with a 23-6 advantage.
