Let’s hit rewind for a sec—just a few days ago, Texas volleyball pulled off an epic comeback against Ole Miss in a jaw-dropping, five-set thriller at Gregory Gym. The Longhorns (18-6, 13-3 SEC) were down 13-7 in the fifth set but rallied their way to a 26-28, 27-25, 25-23, 21-25, 17-15 victory. It was a Senior Day for the books, celebrating Texas stars like Keonilei Akana, Soah Franklin, Reagan Rutherford, Madisen Skinner, and Jenna Wenaas, who made their final regular-season home match unforgettable.

But Ole Miss wasn’t about to let that sting linger. Fast-forward to December 5th, and they were ready to rewrite their story. Fresh off their first-ever historic NCAA Tournament selection, the Rebels hit the Cornhusker State with fire in their hearts and a mission on their minds. On a thrilling Thursday night at the D.J. Sokol Arena, Ole Miss made program history, stunning No. 21 and seventh-seeded Florida State in a nail-biting 3-2 showdown. The win not only sent them soaring into the second round of the NCAA Tournament but also marked a moment for the books. And now, senior Payton Brgoch has stepped in to reflect on this unforgettable victory!

In a clip shared by NCAA Women’s Volleyball on X, the host didn’t hold back, asking Payton Brgoch about Ole Miss’s nail-biting five-set loss to Texas in the regular season finale. “You came so close to beating Texas in five to end the regular season. What were kind of the talks amongst your team and with your coaches to flip that narrative right after coming out on the bottom of a five-setter to come out on top of this one?”

Payton’s response was packed with heart and determination. “That was just a huge motivating force for us,” she shared, reflecting on how they processed the tough loss. “Rather than it kind of taking us down or thinking about it a lot, we just kind of took it on the chin, put it in our belt of knowing that we can hang, we can beat those teams.” She doubled down on the team’s mindset, saying, “We should be here just as much as the next person.”

Her focus was on not letting the sting of last week’s fifth-set loss linger. “I think our biggest thing on the set was not holding that fifth-set loss from last week as like, like over our heads and it lingering,” she explained. Instead, they approached it with confidence and consistency, treating this week’s challenge like “the same thing we have done every week since January.” Payton and her team turned a tough loss into fuel, proving they’re not just here to play—they’re here to stay.

It was a night for the history books, as Payton Brgoch went all out, smashing her way to a career-best, and an NCAA volleyball Tournament program-high with 19 kills and eight blocks, all while boasting a sizzling .500 hitting percentage. Talk about a powerhouse performance! Not to be outdone, Nia Washington brought the heat with 16 kills, paired with career highs in six blocks, five service aces, and a sprinkle of six digs for good measure.

The magic didn’t stop there—Mokihana Tufono dished out assists like a pro, matching her career-best with an impressive 59 assists and throwing in 12 digs for an extra sparkle. And let’s give it up for Shayla Meyer, who shined bright in her Nebraska homecoming with a double-double of 13 kills and 16 digs. And guess what? There was another twist that made this unforgettable night even more magical!

Ole Miss senior breaks program’s record for all time blocks

While Ole Miss celebrated a monumental victory, one Rebel was out there making her own mark in the history books! On a thrilling night at the D.J. Sokol Arena, the Rebels delivered a jaw-dropping performance, toppling No. 21 and seventh-seeded Florida State in a nail-biting 3-2 showdown. This win wasn’t just about advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament—it was the program’s first-ever tournament victory in five attempts! And to sweeten the deal, it marked their first ranked win since 2021 when they triumphed over No. 15 Western Kentucky. Talk about a night to remember!

But the spotlight didn’t stop there. Sasha Ratliff, the senior standout from Atlanta, Georgia, decided to sprinkle some extra magic on an already historic night. With a towering nine-block performance that matched her career high, Ratliff shattered a 28-year-old record to become Ole Miss volleyball’s all-time block leader across all eras. She entered the match just five blocks shy of the milestone and sealed the deal in the second set, passing Genevieve Shy’s record of 502 blocks from 1996. It was a moment of pure brilliance as Ratliff etched her name into the Rebel legacy with 507 career blocks—and counting!

As her illustrious career reaches its grand finale, Ratliff’s legacy is nothing short of legendary. She leaves behind a reign as the program’s all-eras block leader, dominating the rally-scoring era in solo blocks, block assists, and total blocks. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, she also ranks ninth all-time in kills. With every block and every kill, Sasha Ratliff has shown the world what it means to be a Rebel—fearless, unstoppable, and unforgettable.