After a weekend split against Alabama and South Carolina, the Ole Miss volleyball team returns home to host Kentucky on Friday night and Arkansas on Sunday afternoon.
Ole Miss (8-7, 2-3 SEC) lost Friday night to Alabama, 3-1, but bounced back in Columbia, S.C., to sweep South Carolina 3-0. Junior outside hitter Kara Morgan, who leads the team with 155 kills, did not play in the Alabama match because of a sprained ankle.
“We were playing without (junior outside hitter) Kara Morgan (Friday night),” head coach Joe Getzin said. “She’s our top player as far as our hitting percentage and kill percentage. Kara (Morgan) did play on Sunday, and I think she was a big difference for us.”
Kentucky (9-6, 3-2) enters the match on a three-game winning streak in the SEC, including a five-set win at Texas A&M. The Aggies swept the Lady Rebels in College State three weeks ago. Senior outside hitter Ashley Frazier leads the Wildcats with 172 kills, followed by junior outside hitter Whitney Billings with 167.
“Kentucky has a 6’4’’ outside hitter (sophomore Lauren O’Conner),” Getzin said. “We haven’t seen that type of size from the pins, up to this point. We’re going to have to clean up our side a little bit and continue to put pressure on the other team.”
Arkansas (13-3, 4-1) is tied atop to SEC Western Division with Texas A&M entering the weekend. Senior outside hitter Jasmine Norton has recorded 207 kills on the season, and junior setter Raymariely Santos leads the Razorbacks with 593 assists, which ranks sixth in the conference.
In league play, the Razorbacks have defeated No. 21 Tennessee in four sets and their lone loss came against No. 13 Florida. Arkansas will play Florida again on Friday night before the Razorbacks travel to Oxford on Sunday.
“Arkansas is also a very big, physical team,” Getzin said. “I’m excited about being at home and playing these two teams.”
The Lady Rebels will play Kentucky on Friday night at 7 p.m. in the Gillom Sports Center, then host Arkansas on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
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