There was unbelievable energy in The CAVE on Sunday when the Crimson Tide met the Ole Miss Rebels for Alabama volleyball’s Alumni Weekend match.
The energy was not enough to keep the Tide from a 2-3 (26-28, 25-19, 25-23, 19-25, 10-15) loss to the Rebels. Alabama stands at 9-12 this season and at 1-10 in the conference.
The first moments of the first set of the game introduced what would be an intense matchup for the Tide. Ole Miss took the first timeout when the Tide led 8-4, but the break didn’t shake Alabama, and the team kept a comfortable lead throughout the set.
In the last half of the set, an error from the Tide would bring Ole Miss ever closer to catching up, and Ole Miss pulled the set out 26-28. Alyssa Meuth led the set in kills with seven, while Ole Miss’ Allegra Wells had six.
After set two, which the Tide lost 19-25, Alabama introduced an array of Tide volleyball alumni. From managers and coaches to all-star players, more than 25 past members of the Tide’s volleyball program were given special recognition at Sunday’s event.
One of the participating alumni, Jennifer Bibber, said the recognition was special and that it brought back a lot of memories of the great times she had at Alabama.
“It was really great to see everybody, and it was nice to meet some of the players from over 20 years ago,” said, Bibber, who played for the Tide from 2000-2003.
Fresh into the third set, Ole Miss led the match with Alabama hot on its trail. For the rest of the set, the Tide would fight to catch up, staying just one or two points behind. Alabama gained the lead 11-10, but an error tied the match soon after. Fitterer and Leigh Moyer both stung Ole Miss with deadly kills for another lead change, and a final kill from Fitterer ended the set 25-23 in the Tide’s favor.
The fourth set started with three consecutive Tide points, but Ole Miss led 13-10 when Alabama called the first timeout of the set to strategize. An impressive dig from the Tide’s own Mary Catherine Aune brought Alabama one point from catching the Rebels 16-15.
Fitterer brought the score 18-all with a speedy attack on the Rebels, but Ole Miss did not bow. They broke the tie with four points gained.
The Tide couldn’t catch the Rebels after their run and the set ended 19-25, Ole Miss.
“I think that was the best we’ve played as a team this season,” Meuth said. “We were competitive for every point and we were finally able to take control of the game ourselves rather than follow the other team’s rhythm. It was unfortunate that it didn’t fall in our favor, but Ole Miss is a great team.”
In the fifth and final set, the Tide took the lead by breaking two consecutive ties. Ole Miss took their turn at the lead at 5-6, but Alabama quickly tied it back up.
Later, trailing by three, Meuth picked up her 23rd kill of the match. However, no matter how hard the Tide fought for points, Alabama fell 10-15 in the final, tiebreaking set. Though the Tide out dug (102-91), out hit (.227-.226), and out killed (70-67) Ole Miss, the Rebels organization halted Alabama’s new lineup.
“We played with a different lineup today that we’ve only had two days to practice with,” said head coach Judy Green. “When you’re trying to climb the mountain as high as you’re trying to climb it, you get breaks that go your way, and I told them in the locker room, ‘We have to create our own luck.’ We have to find a way to be able to get at it next time.”
Alabama will play again on Oct. 29 in Fayetteville, Ark., against the Lady Razorbacks at 7 p.m.
