Golden Eagles Fall in Four Sets to South Alabama

Friday, September 10

Jacksonville, Ala.

1:30 p.m.

Southern Miss

-53,00 CUSA

South Alabama

5-2,0-0Sun Belt

South Alabama

Southern Miss.

Golden Eagles Fall in Four Sets to South Alabama

9/10/2021 4:03:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. -- Nine Golden Eagles recorded kills in their opening matchup of the Jacksonville State Invitational, but fell to the South Alabama Jaguars in four sets.

Sophomore Mia Wesley and senior Duquesne Moratzka led Southern Miss offensively with 16 and 13 kills, respectively. Aliah Giroux, Lauren Talbert, Kenzie Smith, Moratzka and Wesley all posted double-digit digs in the defeat.

Set One, Southern Miss 15, South Alabama 25: The Golden Eagles struggled in the opening set, falling behind 1-0 after a set score of 25-15. Southern Miss struggled offensively, as the team combined for a .000 hitting percentage on 30 attacks.

South Alabama troubled Southern Miss from the service line, as the Jaguars dished out four aces enroute to an early lead. Reagan Leinen led the Golden Eagles with three kills in the opening frame.

Set Two, Southern Miss 20, South Alabama 25: Southern Miss made adjustments and improved upon a difficult first set. However, after falling behind early in set two, the Golden Eagles were unable to close the gap in time and dropped the frame, 25-20.

Wesley tallied four of the Golden Eagles' eight second set kills, while six players recorded a combined 15 digs.

Set Three, Southern Miss 26, South Alabama 24: Southern Miss battled hard in a close third set and extended the contest after winning the frame, 26-24. The Golden Eagles outpaced South Alabama offensively with 17 kills compared to the Jaguars 12.

Southern Miss was also rock solid on defense in the third set, recording 28 digs as a unit to send the match to a fourth set. A pair of service aces from Lindsey Legg and Lauren Talbert also aided the Golden Eagles to an important set victory.

Set Four, Southern Miss 23, South Alabama 25: Despite tallying 18 kills in the final set, Southern Miss fell to South Alabama in four frames. Wesley put up six kills, leading her team in fourth set and upping her total for the match to 16.

Smith dished out 16 assists, while Giroux posted six digs in the decisive frame.

Southern Miss finishes its time at the Jacksonville State Invitational with two matches tomorrow. The Golden Eagles first face off with Nicholls at 11 a.m. before battling host Jacksonville State at 6 p.m.