Golden Eagles Split with Jacksonville, No. 16 South Carolina

Saturday, March 13

Columbia, S.C.

12 p.m. CT

Southern Miss

Jacksonville

Photo by: Gregg Ellman

Golden Eagles Split with Jacksonville, No. 16 South Carolina

3/13/2021 7:16:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Southern Miss opened its third beach volleyball tournament, the Carolina Challenge with positives on both ends of a split against Jacksonville and No. 16 South Carolina on Saturday.

The Golden Eagles' shutout of the Dolphins marked its fifth in program history and first since March 6, 2020 against Southeastern Louisiana. Three of the victories came via sweeps and another on No. 5 was by forfeit.

The nightcap was a solid battle against yet another ranked team on the early slate. Kylie Grandy and Abbey Wilson's three-set victory on No. 1 marked their second win over a ranked opponent, both against South Carolina (previously in the 2019 season, the program's first). Freshmen Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou and Kai Norman rallied from a 21-9 decision to shock their No. 4 foes with a 21-16 in the ensuing set.

Southern Miss will rise and shine Sunday to close it out, facing Mercer and Coastal Carolina at 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. CT, respectively.

Southern Miss 5, Jacksonville 0
1. Kylie Grandy/Abbey Wilson (USM) def. Morgan Dees/Shaylee Befus (JU) 21-18, 21-14
2. Breleigh Favre/Olivia Hepworth (USM) def. Olivia Szyszkiewicz/Rina Mitchell (JU) 21-13, 17-21, 15-9
3. Hallie Phelan/Haley Hop (USM) def. Giao Huynh/Kathryn Wristen (JU) 21-12, 21-11
4. Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou/Kai Norman (USM) def. Kari DeYoung/Kaitlyn Sereda (JU) 21-10, 21-10
5. Kaylie Beck/Melanie Miller (USM) def. No player/No player (JU), by forfeit

Order of finish: Doubles (5,4,1,3,2)

#16 South Carolina 4, Southern Miss 1
1. Kylie Grandy/Abbey Wilson (USM) def. Alyssa Keller/Katie Smith (SC) 21-16, 18-21, 15-12
2. Skylar Allen/Jordan Smith (SC) def. Breleigh Favre/Olivia Hepworth (USM) 21-12, 21-7
3. Madison Brabham/Abby Carroll (SC) def. Hallie Phelan/Haley Hop (USM) 21-13, 21-10
4. Jess Vastine/Hannah Mackenhausen (SC) def. Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou/Kai Norman (USM) 21-9, 16-21, 15-8
5. Morgyn Greer/Carly Schnieder (SC) def. Kaylie Beck/Melanie Miller (USM) 21-14, 21-14

Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,5,4,1);