Southern Miss Defeats USC Upstate, Louisiana to Improve to 4-0

Saturday, August 28

Hattiesburg, Miss.

12 p.m.

Southern Miss

USC Upstate

Southern Miss Defeats USC Upstate, Louisiana to Improve to 4-0

8/28/2021 7:59:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss volleyball team won both of its matches on day two of the Southern Miss Classic. The Golden Eagles improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2015 with victories over USC Upstate and Louisiana.

Mia Wesley earned All-Tournament and MVP honors for her efforts throughout the tournament. She was joined on the team with fellow teammates, setter Kenzie Smith and libero Aliah Giroux.

Game One: Southern Miss 3, USC Upstate 0

The Golden Eagles opened the second day of the Southern Miss Classic against the USC Upstate Spartans. Southern Miss outperformed the Spartans throughout the match enroute to a straight set victory.

Sophomore Mia Wesley recorded a team-high 14 kills in the sweep, followed by freshman Cara Atkinson with 10. Aliah Giroux tallied 12 digs, while junior setter Kenzie Smith handed out 38 assists.

Set One, Southern Miss 25, USC Upstate 13: The Golden Eagles opened their match against USC Upstate strong with a dominant performance in the first set. Southern Miss posted 17 kills enroute to a 25-13 set win.

Wesley kicked things off for Southern Miss with five kills on seven attempts and was followed closely by fellow newcomer Leinen with four kills. Six different Golden Eagles posted multiple kills in the first set as Southern Miss put up a .455 hitting percentage.

Southern Miss also dominated defensively in the first set as USC Upstate was held to a .059 hitting percentage. The Golden Eagles tallied 20 digs, with five coming from junior Lindsey Legg.

Set Two, Southern Miss 26, USC Upstate 24: Southern Miss fought past the Spartans in a closely contested second set. The Golden Eagles were able to claim the frame due to strong offensive performances from Wesley and Atkinson who both recorded five kills each.

Smith dished out 14 assists in the frame to help lead Southern Miss to a close set victory over the Spartans. Defensively, the Golden Eagles combined for 17 digs in the second set.

Set Three, Southern Miss 25, USC Upstate 19: The Golden Eagles completed the sweep against USC Upstate, winning the third set, 25-19. Southern Miss chalked up 16 kills in the decisive frame enroute to a 3-0 record.

Four Golden Eagles recorded three or more assists in the set, while Smith put up another 11 assists.

Game Two: Southern Miss 3, Louisiana 2

Southern Miss closed its opening tournament with a 3-2 victory against the previously unbeaten Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.

Giroux served as the Golden Eagles' rock on defense, racking up 26 digs, while Smith set a career-high in assists with 50 on the night.

Wesley added 21 kills, rounding out a strong tournament and securing All-Tournament MVP honors.

Set One, Southern Miss 25, Louisiana 20: Southern Miss took the first set against Louisiana by a score of 25-20. Smith racked up seven assists, while Wesley added three service aces to help clinch the frame for the Golden Eagles.

Set Two, Southern Miss 20, Louisiana 25: Louisiana responded in the second set, tying the match with a 25-20 victory. Wesley led the Black and Gold with four kills in set two, followed by Leinen with three.

Set Three, Southern Miss 26, Louisiana 24: The Golden Eagles edged out Louisiana in the third set, taking a 2-1 lead following a 26-24 frame. Wesley tallied eight kills, while Smith dished up 16 assists on 19 Southern Miss kills. Giroux recorded six digs to lead Southern Miss defensively.

Set Four, Southern Miss 21, Louisiana 25: Louisiana once again tied up the match with a 25-21 set win in the fourth frame. Lauren Talbert notched four kills in the set, while Giroux added another 11 digs.

Set Five, Southern Miss 15, Louisiana 9: The Golden Eagles closed out the match and the Southern Miss Classic with a 15-9 win in set five to win the match. Giroux's five digs anchored Southern Miss to victory, as the Golden Eagles racked up 14 digs in the final frame.

Southern Miss Classic All-Tournament Team:
Mia Wesley: Southern Miss, MVP
Kenzie Smith: Southern Miss
Aliah Giroux: Southern Miss
Kelsey Bennett: Louisiana
Hannah Ramirez: Louisiana
Imani Hartfield: SIU
Breeana Gamueda: USC Upstate

Southern Miss will look to use the momentum gained in its season opening tournament as a launching point for more victories. The Golden Eagles travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to take part in the Crimson Tide Invitational on Sept. 3-4.