Above the Net
9/29/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Above the Net
Friday, September 27, 2002, 7 p.m.
Tonight is the first time that the Lady Eagles have had little volleyballs to throw to the crowd. At the beginning of the match, when the announcer is naming all of the starters, they each throw a ball to the fan of their choice. All of the balls are autographed by the entire Southern Miss volleyball team. I think that?s a great idea.
GAME 1
This game is about tipping; never mind, the whole match is about tipping. I guess the good thing about it, is it goes back and forth. For instance, UAB?s middle blocker outsmarted USM when she tipped it right into the middle of the court. But, then Zane tipped one right back to score the next point, 10-5. Truong is maintaining her role, getting a kill with the ?2 ball?. USM is playing very well, but UAB is also making a lot of mistakes.
The Payne Center is crowded, and there are a lot of new faces in the stands. One particular face that?s been around a long time is Chris Tribble, Nicki and Kelly?s mom. She always makes the weekend fun. No time outs were called the whole game until UAB called one at 23-17, and then again at 26-19. USM has held the lead the whole game, but barely. UAB started to come back when USM started to fall apart, forcing them to call a time out at 27-25, and then again at 28 all. The crowd and the coaching staff are nervous, but Southern Miss takes the win, 31-29.
GAME 2
Game 1 was too close! I am convinced we have a dance team as well as a volleyball team. A lot of the Lady Eagles ?celebrate? in their own way after a big play. I discussed Tribble?s ritual in my last article. Tonight I?d like to focus on Zane. Just now, she set Biff a ?31? and Biff put it straight down. Zane does a little shake dance herself! It?s adorable, and in a way shows that she?s proud of her hitters. Zane?s been ?hitting the weights? as Santiago would say. She won a joust at the net against the UAB middle blocker. Troung and Olsson are playing great defense tonight. UAB is getting a lot of points from tips. 14-all, and both teams are making errors. USM calls a time out when UAB is up 21-15. Smooth lady, Truong. She just tipped a ball with her left hand, behind her head and UAB?s defense never saw it coming. Southern Miss gave the second game away, 30-20.
GAME 3
The crowd is a lot of Payne Center regulars. Also watching are players from men?s and women?s basketball, track, softball, and men?s and women?s golf. This match has had a lot of controversial calls for both teams. At 4-1, a bad call by the referee sparked a fire on the Southern Miss side, and they started to play with some emotion. That was probably the best thing to happed in this match. This game is a ?constant battle?, as Tribble would say. There have been a lot of long rallies. Both teams want to win this game. Everyone is playing great defense tonight, it?s hard to single anyone out, although it would be easy to say Olsson. Truong is playing serve receive very well. Stephen?s with the dig ? nice up! The UAB setter just tried to tip the ball over, but instead tipped it into the net. Zane and Bush started to laugh, and for some reason, Heidi, Santiago?s wife, was laughing with them from the sidelines. She?s one of the girls, anyway! USM gets the momentum back and wins game 3, 30-19.
GAME 4
The Lady Eagles are having fun and laughing together. UAB calls a time out at 12-4 ... USM is on a roll! USM calls a time out at 15-9, after UAB takes the momentum. The Lady Eagles had an 8-point lead, but the UAB Blazers started to come back, and the score is 16-14. UAB calls a final time out at 23-17, but Southern Miss wins their first conference match, 30-25.