Balanced Attack Falls Short in Season Opener

Friday, August 30

Denver, Colo.

4 p.m. CT

Southern Miss

0-1

Seattle

1-0

Southern Miss

Seattle U

Balanced Attack Falls Short in Season Opener

8/30/2019 6:26:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

DENVER, Colo. - The Southern Miss (0-1, 0-0 C-USA) volleyball team fell to Seattle (1-0, 0-0 WAC) by a final score of 3-1 at the Denver Classic in Denver, Colo. The meeting marked the first match of the 2019 season both teams.

The Golden Eagles jumped out to a quick start, leading 12-11 midway through the first set. Seattle responded with a 7-1 run that put Southern Miss down by three. The Redhawks went on another run en route to a 25-20 win. Redshirt sophomore Chloe Klusman paced the Golden Eagles with three kills in the set, while redshirt freshman Lindsey Legg tallied three digs.

Southern Miss fell behind early in the second set and inched towards a comeback late in the set, but could not catch up to the Redhawks. The Golden Eagles pulled within two points late in the set only to have Seattle secure the set via a kill.

Down to their final chance, the Golden Eagles lit up midway during the third set. A kill by freshman Kess Krutsinger vaulted the Golden Eagles to a four-point lead and ultimately put Seattle out of reach from a three-set sweep. Freshman Summer Johnson secured the third set for Southern Miss with her first kill as a Golden Eagle.

Seattle took an early lead in the fourth set and Southern Miss was never able to regain a lead in the matches final set. The Redhawks recorded their first win of the season by a 25-18 win in the fourth set.

In total, nine different Golden Eagle players recorded a kill on opening day. Nine different Golden Eagles assisted in a 12-block attack as well. Freshman Gillian Hidalgo led the way with three blocks and Klusman had two and a half. Senior Ashley Berry paced Southern Miss with 11 kills. Junior Piper Matsumoto tallied 24 assists and nine digs, one shy of a double-double.

The Golden Eagles will continue their Denver trip at 1 p.m. (CT) on Saturday against Denver. Following that matchup, Southern Miss will round out the Denver Classic against San Francisco at 5 p.m. (CT).