OXFORD, Miss. -- After jumping ahead 2-0, Texas dropped the third game but rebounded to win the fourth game and defeat Ole Miss - 30-26, 30-20, 27-30, 30-21 - Friday evening at the Rebels' Ole Miss Magnolia Invitational at the Gillom Center.
A trio of Longhorns swung for double-figure kills in the victory as Texas (3-1) moved to 2-0 at the tournament. Ole Miss (4-2) went to 1-1 at the event.
For the fourth time in as many matches this season - and for the second time in the same day - Lauren Paolini led the team in kills as she collected her second double-double of the season with 18 kills and 10 digs. Brandy Magee continued her strength at the net, hitting at a .520 clip with 16 kills, while Dariam Acevedo added 12 kills on a .310 attack percentage. Alyson Jennings had a match-high 11 digs as Texas hit .386 for the match.
Ole Miss' Nikki Hall also posted 18 kills, while Jaclyn Toohey connected for 15 as the Rebels had a team attack efficiency of .196.
Texas jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the first game, but Ole Miss rallied back to take a 10-9 lead. After Jennifer Todd's kill evened the game at 11, UT ran off a 7-4 run to move ahead for good. However, the Rebels continued to pressure Texas and knotted the score again at 22-22, but Texas used OM attack errors - including three straight to end the game - down the stretch to secure the game and take a 1-0 lead.
UT took control of the second game right way, stepping out to a 10-4 lead. The Longhorns extended the lead to as many as 10 points at 26-16 before closing out the game and taking a 2-0 lead.
Ole Miss pulled out to an early 3-1 lead in the third game and didn't look back. The Rebels extended the lead to as many as six points - at 15-6 - before the Horns rallied to tie the score at 18-18. UT grabbed its first lead of the game at 20-19 but back-to-back hitting errors gave the lead back to Ole Miss. The Horns only got within one point down the stretch, but the Rebels closed out the game with four-straight points to pull within one game.
Texas controlled game four from the outset to earn the four-game victory. UT went up, 13-8, and then pushed its advantage to 18-11. After the Longhorns earned match point at 29-17, Ole Miss scored four straight points to stave off the end of the match, but Magee's final kill of the night ended for the Horns.
The Longhorns return to action on Saturday, Sept. 10, when they face North Carolina State at noon before taking on Lamar at 5 p.m.
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