Players chant the fight song after their 3-2 win over Georgia earlier this season. Photo by Billy Schuerman
Following last weekend’s assertive 3-0 victory over South Carolina, Ole Miss volleyball prepares for a midweek trip to visit the LSU Tigers. Scheduled for 8 p.m. Wednesday night in Baton Rouge, the Rebels are attempting to break above .500 in SEC play against a Tigers squad that currently sits third in conference standings, with a 6-4 SEC record.
The Rebels certainly have their work cut out for them, as the Tigers are not only undefeated at home this year, but they are also boasting a four-game win streak, the second longest in the SEC. Despite the Tigers’ impressive record, the Rebels can still pull out a much-needed victory. Here are three keys to victory for the Rebels:
Limiting playmakers
Last week’s “Players of the Week” roundup featured three of the Tigers among its five honorees, an unsettling realization for any Rebel volleyball fan. Freshmen Raigen Cianciulli and Taylor Bannister were awarded Defensive Player and Freshman of the Week, respectively, while sophomore Anna Zwiebel nabbed Co-Setter of the Week honors.
The three young playmakers top an impressive slate full of emerging stars, each dangerous and capable of hurting Ole Miss from anywhere on the court. Head coach Steven McRoberts’ focus should, first and foremost, be on countering LSU’s three-headed dragon while limiting its production and, ultimately, choking the Tigers out of their typical game plan.
Breaking the chain
So far, Ole Miss has failed to win vital SEC games, and its rankings have suffered as a result. While a 4-4 conference record is good enough for above-average placement within the conference, it has done little to set Ole Miss apart from some of its more talented competition.
McRoberts and his squad should focus on breaking the cycle of repetitive, uninspired play in SEC matchups. Two recent 3-0 losses to SEC teams show the Rebels’ recent tendency to lose momentum after dropping early sets. Ole Miss must harken back to its early-season play, a time when close, 3-2 wins were second nature, and retrieve the necessary inspiration to take down the Tigers.
Behind enemy lines
While the exact measure of a team’s home-court advantage can be difficult, if not impossible, to quantify, it is hard to argue LSU’s home court affects the outcome of games more than most. As mentioned before, the Tigers have won five and lost none this season in Baton Rouge, all while maintaining a rather mediocre 5-4 away record.
When comparing records, it’s clear LSU is simply a different team when energized by its home crowd, a factor that Ole Miss must inhibit for a shot at winning the matchup. While silencing a home SEC crowd is a tall order for anyone, limiting aces and other momentum-shifting plays while controlling the flow can help minimize the Tigers’ advantage.
