Ole Miss volleyball player Ty Laporte killed in car wreck

OXFORD, Mississippi (AP) — University of Mississippi volleyball player Ty Laporte was killed Thursday night in a two-car crash a few miles south of the Tennessee state line.

Mississippi Highway Patrol Master Sgt. Ray Hall said Friday that Laporte, 23, died at the site of the wreck in Benton County, Mississippi, about 50 miles north of Oxford.

Hall said it appeared that Laporte pulled into the path of an 18-wheeler driven by Rickey Kirkpatrick, 63, of Rainsville, Ala. The wreck happened at the intersection of Mississippi Highway 7 and U.S. Highway 72, and it remained under investigation. Hall said no charges were filed.

Laporte was from Irmo, South Carolina.

“Our volleyball family is so heartbroken today with this news,” Ole Miss volleyball coach Steven McRoberts said in a statement. “Ty’s smile would light up the room, and her passion was contagious. She was loved by all of her teammates and coaches.”

The Ole Miss athletics website said Laporte, a middle blocker, was in the top 10 in the Southeastern Conference in hitting percentage during the 2015 season.

During four years with the Rebels, Laporte ranked third all-time in block assists with 280 and third all-time in total blocks with 334. She also ranked fifth all-time in kills with 999. The integrated marketing communications major was on the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2014 and 2015.

Laporte had also competed in high jump on the Ole Miss track and field team since her freshman year. She ranked ninth in school history in the outdoor high jump with a clearance of 5 feet, 7.75 inches in 2014.

“We are shocked and deeply saddened by Ty’s death,” Ole Miss Athletic Director Ross Bjork said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, her teammates, coaches and our staff during this difficult time. Everyone in the Ole Miss family offers our deepest sympathy to everyone who was touched by Ty’s amazing and infectious spirit.”