Southern Miss Set to Host UTEP for Two C-USA Matches

Southern Miss Golden Eagles (10-10, 2-4 C-USA) vs. UTEP Miners (13-4, 2-2 C-USA)
Friday, October 15 - 5 p.m. CT
Saturday, October 16 - 11 a.m. CT -- Hattiesburg, Miss. (Volleyball Wellness Center)
Live Scores: SouthernMiss.com
Stream: CUSA.tv

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Golden Eagles return to the Volleyball Wellness Center this weekend for a pair of crucial Conference USA matchups. Southern Miss takes on the UTEP Miners on Friday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 16.

Southern Miss enters the series against the Miners with a 10-10 record and a 2-4 mark in C-USA play. The Golden Eagles last faced the North Texas Mean Green last weekend in Denton, Texas. Southern Miss fell to UNT in consecutive matches and look to bounce back this weekend at home.

Kenzie Smith performed admirably in the Golden Eagles' second matchup against North Texas last weekend, leading Southern Miss in both assists, with 33 and digs with 18. She also contributed offensively, recording five kills and four blocks in the contest.

Southern Miss has faced UTEP 22 times in a series that dates back to 1995. The Golden Eagles hold a 14-8 advantage in the all-time series and have won seven of the last 10 matchups between the programs.

Since UTEP entered the C-USA in 2005, the Golden Eagles have won 13 of the 20 meetings between the conference foes. The Miners have picked up victories in each of the last three contests against the Golden Eagles, including a pair of wins last March in El Paso, Texas.

The Golden Eagles currently hold a 9-1 record in Hattiesburg and have gone 2-0 in C-USA play at the Wellness Center. Southern Miss will look to use the home court advantage to pick up crucial conference wins this weekend.

Southern Miss was successful in its previous series at home against UTSA on Oct. 1-2, as the Golden Eagles picked up a pair of historic sweeps against the Roadrunners.

Kinsley Hanback and Mia Wesley will lead the Golden Eagles on the offensive side of the ball against UTEP. Hanback, a senior middle hitter, has recorded a hitting percentage of .337 with 156 kills throughout 2021. Wesley has racked up 261 kills, which is the fourth-highest total in the C-USA this season.

As a program, the Golden Eagles lead the C-USA in total kills (990), assists (905), and digs (1209). Smith leads the conference in assists with 729, while Aliah Giroux has the second-most digs in the C-USA with 305.

Southern Miss takes on the UTEP Miners on Friday, Oct. 15 at 5 p.m. and on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. at the Volleyball Wellness Center. Admission is free and fans can catch the action on CUSA.tv.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Twitter and Instagram, @SouthernMissVB and on Facebook at facebook.com/SouthernMissVB.

History vs. UTEP:
- Southern Miss and UTEP are set to face off for the 23rd and 24th time in their respective histories. The Golden Eagles lead the all-time series, 14-8.
- The Golden Eagles and Miners last faced off in a pair of matches last season in Hattiesburg. UTEP won both matchups in El Paso, Texas in straight sets.
- The series between Southern Miss and UTEP dates back to Sept. 9, 1995. The Miners won the first meeting between the programs in a 3-0 sweep in El Paso.
- The Golden Eagles have won 13 of 20 matchups between the teams since UTEP joined the C-USA in 2005.
- Head coach Stephanie Radecki holds a 1-3 record against UTEP at Southern Miss.

Quick Hits:
- The Southern Miss volleyball program returns home to the Volleyball Wellness Center for a pair of Conference USA matches against UTEP on Friday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 16.
- The Golden Eagles enter this weekend's series with a 10-10 record and have gone 2-4 in C-USA competition.
- Southern Miss holds a 9-1 record and a 2-0 record in conference play at the Wellness Center this season.
- The Golden Eagles and Miners have faced off 22 times throughout their histories. They have battled 20 times as conference foes since UTEP joined the C-USA in 2005.
- The Golden Eagles last took the floor against North Texas on the road, falling in a pair of conference matches.

Season Highlights:
- The Golden Eagles feature five athletes who have recorded over 100 kills this season. Mia Wesley (261), Duquesne Moratzka (176), Kinsley Hanback (156), Cara Atkinson (122) and Lauren Talbert (110) have led their team offensively this year.
- Aliah Giroux leads the Golden Eagles defensively with 305 digs.
- Hanback holds the best hitting percentage on the team, hitting at an efficient .337 clip in 2021.
- The Golden Eagles are seventh in the NCAA in kills (990) and ninth in assists (905). Defensively, Southern Miss is seventh in the nation in digs (1209). They lead the C-USA in all three categories.
- Kenzie Smith has recorded 729 assists, which is the eighth-highest total in the nation and highest total in the C-USA for a single setter.
- Southern Miss holds the best home record in Conference USA as of Oct. 14, as the Golden Eagles have gone 9-1 in Hattiesburg.

Southern Miss Set to Host UTEP for Two C-USA Matches

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Cara Atkinson

Aliah Giroux

Kinsley Hanback

Duquesne Moratzka

Kenzie Smith

Lauren Talbert

Mia Wesley