Every week, I write a feature article about the team. It seems that the subject of the article falters during the following weekend’s matches. Am I responsible for this?

Emily Kvitle, the Rebels’ setter at the time I wrote the feature article, lost her starting position following the extensive story published about her on olemisssports.com. The Daily Mississippian’s John Holt also published a long-winded story about Kvitle’s life on and off the volleyball court… Then she performed poorly against two teams over the weekend and her starting position was taken by Marielle Oestermeyer.

I also wrote a feature story about Marielle Oestermeyer following her switch to the starting setter position as a freshman. Obviously, the article addressed the outstanding skills exhibited by the player that allowed her to replace Kvitle. However, in the match immediately following the article, Oestermeyer’s performance was not up to par and she was replaced mid-game by Kvitle.

After writing a story a while back about Catherine Heck, the Rebels’ defensive specialist, she faltered on her serves. She stated that her serve was her most consistent skill in her interview. Hmm.

The Rebels’ season is almost over, and I am hesitating to write another story about the team. For now, I’ll hold off until told otherwise. Maybe reading about themselves creates some kind of psychological issue in each player’s mind. I’ll refrain from contributing to the phenomena in the slim chance that the curse actually exists.

I’ve been following the team unbearably close throughout the course of the season as I am an intern at the Ole Miss Media Relations department. During every home game, I work as the libero tracker. I write feature stories about the team every week.

This team is not happy. I know it for a fact.

They are 8-16 overall, 2-12 in the SEC. They have lost to every team in the SEC besides Arkansas and Alabama, who are out to seek revenge in their next matches. The team was blown out by LSU in three sets last time they played, and they are playing them again today, this time at home.

Their season kill-leader, Katie Norris, was out in their last four games with a sprained ankle and may or may not be playing today in the rematch. The team’s statistics are undoubtedly suffering without her in the game to put the ball down consistently.

Positions are changing from game to game. Marielle Oestermeyer, a freshman, is now playing as starting setter in front of junior Emily Kvitle. Courtney Cunningham and Ashley Anderson are seeing more playing time than ever due to Norris’ injury, and the middle blockers are finally stepping up to make up for her absence in the outside.

However, the team needs to pull off a miracle to beat No. 19 LSU.

Oestermeyer thinks they have a chance, which she explains in this article: http://www.olemisssports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=2600&ATCLID=204828215.

Good luck, Rebs.

At Ole Miss, I played almost every intramural sport possible in an attempt to fill the void that competitive volleyball had left in my heart. It wasn’t the same. Indoor volleyball intramural games consisted of fraternity guys and sorority girls knocking and kicking a volleyball around like it was a beach ball. I left every game beyond frustrated.

After a little research, I found a club volleyball league for college women. I was ecstatic. I started the team three years ago, and now we have over 20 girls who love to play. We traveled to University of Kansas, St. Louis University, Vanderbilt, Memphis and University of Georgia last year for tournaments, making it to the winning brackets of all of them. This year, we will be attending the national volleyball tournament in Dallas, Texas, in April.

Look here for constant updates on all things volleyball – club, collegiate or intramurals.