The University of Alabama volleyball team returns to Foster Auditorium Wednesday, Sept. 28, to square off against Southeastern Conference foe Ole Miss.
After defeating Georgia on Sunday, Alabama picked up its first SEC victory of the season, and its first SEC road victory in two years. Head coach Ed Allen’s squad looks to pick up another victory at home.
“We’ve played two SEC matches in Foster and it’s an incredible environment to play in,” he said. “First of all, we’re very excited to be able to be back in our home court and have the support that we have, because clearly our fans are providing a seventh man advantage for us. We’re excited about trying to give our fans a brand of volleyball they’ll be pleased with.”
After Sunday’s victory, Alabama was back at 0.500 with a 7-7 record. The Tide will have a small break from travelling, with its next three matches at home. Out of the 14 matches Alabama has competed in, the team has only played five of those at home. Allen said the lack of traveling is a welcome change.
“We’re excited about having the opportunity to stay at home and not having the wear and tear of what traveling creates,” Allen said.
After gaining its first SEC win, the Tide hopes to build off the weekend’s success. But Ole Miss will be tough competition. Both squads are 1-3 in league play, but the Rebels have yet to gain a road victory.
Alabama will need a solid performance to defeat Ole Miss. The Rebels have been a clean ball-handling team this season, averaging only one serve reception error per set.
“We’re excited about playing a team that consistently competes at the top of the Western division,” Allen said.
Junior Kayla Fitterer will once again have her hands full facing Ole Miss’s outside hitter Allegra Wells, who has 124 kills on the season.
Ole Miss’s team is well balanced, with multiple standout players. The Tide will need a tough defensive standing to put away the Rebels, something Allen has continuously hammered into his team’s head.
One of the Tide’s disadvantages is the youth of the team. Nine out of the Tide’s 13 players are underclassmen, while Ole Miss only has seven underclassmen out of 15. Allen stated that with such an inexperienced team, each practice and match is important to becoming one unit.
Alabama faces off against Ole Miss on Wednesday at Foster Auditorium at 7 p.m.
