University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Opens Volleyball Season at Mississippi State
8/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Southern Miss Opens Volleyball Season at Mississippi State
Second-year Coach Ricci Luyties |
Southern Miss is coming off a 7-20 season under second-year coach Ricci Luyties. The Lady Eagles, led by senior middle blocker Jazzmien Stephens, return five starters plus the libero from last year's squad. Also returning with Stephens are senior Leslie Robertson and juniors Amanda Blunck and Cassie Conley. Stephens led the team in kills (267), blocks (111) and overall points (333.5), while Blunck led the team in digs (365).
Also returning are sophomores Nicole Rock, Morgan Johnson and Kaitlyn Deutsch. Johnson was second on the team in kills (200). Deutsch spent time at setter as well as libero. The Golden Eagles welcome four newcomers, including junior college transfers Ednali Serralta and Amber Bloom and freshmen Stevi Chery and Ashley Petrinec.
Mississippi State is coming off a 14-16 season. Head Coach Tina Seals is in her second season at State. The Bulldogs return five starters, led by outside hitter Rachel Cooper, who led the team in kills (402) and setter Andrea Mead who recorded 1,001 assists.
Southern Miss plays 11 consecutive matches on the road before the season opener, Sept. 25 against Conference USA foe SMU. That stretch of road matches include three straight tournaments, at UC Irvine, Western Illinois and South Alabama, plus the C-USA opener at Tulsa.
