University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
Memphis
Volleyball Team Downs Memphis, 3-1
10/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 2, 2009
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss volleyball team downed Memphis in four sets, 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-19), improving to 15-3 overall and 3-1 in Conference USA play. Memphis dropped to 2-15 and 0-4.
Ashley Mell put down a match-high 23 kills with only three attack errors in 47 attempts, netting a .426 attack percentage. She also added 11 digs. Maia Ivanova anchored the back row defense, tallying 20 digs. Kelsea Seymour added her 13th double-double with 47 assists and 10 digs. Sarah Jane Bowden recorded seven total blocks.
"I think we played a little sloppy in the first set, but I was happy with the set that we actually came back and played well after that," Luyties said. "We've done that a lot this year where we've had some bad sets, but we've been able to rebound which is a good sign for this team. I really thought the freshmen, Halie Ecker and Brianna Arvin, came in and played really well. They gave us a big spark in that second set. They helped us turn our whole attitude and the match around."
Memphis popped out to a 5-1 lead to open the first set. The Golden Eagles rallied to cut the lead to one, 7-6, behind three kills by Mell. From there, the teams battled back-and-forth with neither team gaining more than a one-point advantage. The set was tied 11 times, the last coming at 22-22 before Memphis pulled ahead on a Carolyn Baker kill and ace. Mell put down one final kill in the set but Marija Jovanovic ended the set with a kill for a 25-23 win.
Southern Miss bounced back to take the second set, 25-20, to tie the match at a set apiece. The Golden Eagles scored four straight points to break a 13-13 tie, then, fought off a Tiger rally late to take the set. Ecker recorded three kills and an ace, sparking the Eagle offense.
"Ashley Mell had a great match," Luyties said. "She had 23 kills and only three errors for the night. She passed well, blocked well and had 11 digs. She had a great all-around match."
Following the intermission, the teams battled to three ties in the early going before Southern Miss tacked on two points to take the early 6-4 lead. The Golden Eagles pushed that lead to four, 10-6, using a 4-2 run. Memphis kept the set close until Southern Miss ran off five points, taking a 20-14 lead. The Eagles closed out set with a 5-2 run, 25-17.
In the fourth set, Southern Miss used a 6-0 run midway in the set to take a 17-11 lead and not look back. Memphis rallied, cutting the lead to three, 14-17, but that was as close as the Tigers would get as Southern Miss won the set, 25-19.
Jovanovic led Memphis with 15 kills with Baker and Altrese Hawkins adding 11 kills apiece. Becky Shaffer totaled 16 digs and Rachel Theard added 12.
The Golden Eagles return to action, Sunday, when they host UAB at 1 p.m.
