University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Golden Eagles Travel to Birmingham for Conference Series Against UAB
9/23/2021 3:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Southern Miss Golden Eagles (8-6, 0-0 C-USA) vs. UAB Blazers (4-6, 0-0 C-USA)
Friday, September 24 - 6 p.m. CT
Saturday, September 25 - 2 p.m. CT -- Birmingham, Ala. (Bartow Arena)
Live Scores: SouthernMiss.com
Stream: CUSA.tv
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Conference USA competition begins this weekend for the Southern Miss volleyball team, as the Golden Eagles head to Birmingham, Ala. for a pair of matches against the UAB Blazers.
Southern Miss heads into conference play with an 8-6 record, including a 7-1 record at home to start the season. Head coach Stephanie Radecki and her squad look to improve upon their C-USA record from last season, and the quest for a conference tournament berth begins against UAB.
The Golden Eagles and Blazers split their two-match series last season in Hattiesburg, with UAB winning the first match in four sets and Southern Miss taking the second. Kinsley Hanback and Duquesne Moratzka led their squad offensively in the March 8 victory, recording 23 of the team's 50 kills, while Kenzie Smith dished out 39 assists.
The Blazers host Southern Miss with a 4-6 record in non conference play. UAB last hosted the Green Wave Invitational, which was moved to Birmingham from New Orleans, La. due to the effects of Hurricane Ida on the original host, Tulane's, campus. UAB suffered defeats against Texas Tech and Tulane and picked up a win over Sam Houston.
Southern Miss last took the floor on Tuesday, Sept. 21 at the Wellness Center against Southeastern. Despite a strong start and impressive offensive performances, the Golden Eagles fell in five sets to the Lady Lions.
Mia Wesley, Lauren Talbert, Hanback and Moratzka all recorded 10 or more kills in Tuesday night's match, with Talbert recording a season-high 17 kills. Smith dished out a career-high 56 assists in the loss.
Southern Miss and UAB have a long, storied history of competition, with 54 matches spanning four decades. The series has been competitive, with each team holding 27 victories since their first matchup in 1981. The Golden Eagles have won seven of the last 10 matchups between the programs.
The Golden Eagles look to improve upon their record and start the conference portion of their season off right with a pair of victories against the Blazers. Southern Miss last defeated UAB twice in a single season in 2015, winning one game in Birmingham and another in Hattiesburg.
Southern Miss takes on the UAB Blazers on Friday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. and on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. The matches will take place in Birmingham, Ala. at Bartow Arena. Fans can catch the action on CUSA.tv and follow the Golden Eagles on Twitter and Instagram at @SouthernMissVB and Facebook at facebook.com/SouthernMissVB.
History vs. UAB:
- Southern Miss and UAB are set to face off for the 55th and 56th time in their respective histories. The all-time series is currently tied, 27-27.
- The Golden Eagles and Blazers last faced off in a pair of matches last season at the Wellness Center. UAB won the first match before Southern Miss took the nightcap in four sets.
- The first matchup between the programs took place on exactly 40 years prior to Saturday's match, with the Blazers winning, 2-0
- Head coach Stephanie Radecki holds a 2-2 record against UAB in her time with Southern Miss.
- Duquesne Moratzka and Kinsley Hanback combined for 23 kills in the Golden Eagles' 3-1 victory over UAB on March 8, 2021.
Quick Hits:
- The Southern Miss volleyball program travels to Birmingham, Ala. to face off with the UAB Blazers on Friday, Sept. 24 and Saturday, Sept. 25.
- The two matches between the Golden Eagles and Blazers will serve as the first Conference USA action for both programs.
- Head coach Stephanie Radecki and her team hold a record of 8-6 heading into this weekend's series
- The Golden Eagles last faced off against Southeastern, falling in five sets to the Lady Lions.
- Southern Miss has played UAB more than any other Conference USA opponent in program history.
- With a record of 8-6, Southern Miss currently sits in third place of the C-USA West Division.
Season Highlights:
- The Golden Eagles feature three athletes who have recorded over 100 kills this season. Mia Wesley (185), Duquesne Moratzka (138) and Kinsley Hanback (118) have led their team offensively this year.
- Aliah Giroux leads the Golden Eagles defensively with 220 digs.
- Hanback holds the best hitting percentage on the team, hitting at an efficient .341 clip in 2021.
- The Golden Eagles leads the NCAA in kills (737) and assists, and sits behind only Arkansas State in digs (891) throughout the 2021 season.
- Smith leads the nation in total assists as of Sept. 23, with 562 to starther junior campaign
- Southern Miss holds the best home record in Conference USA as of Sept. 22, as the Golden Eagles have gone 7-1 in Hattiesburg.
Friday, September 24 - 6 p.m. CT
Saturday, September 25 - 2 p.m. CT -- Birmingham, Ala. (Bartow Arena)
Live Scores: SouthernMiss.com
Stream: CUSA.tv
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Conference USA competition begins this weekend for the Southern Miss volleyball team, as the Golden Eagles head to Birmingham, Ala. for a pair of matches against the UAB Blazers.
Southern Miss heads into conference play with an 8-6 record, including a 7-1 record at home to start the season. Head coach Stephanie Radecki and her squad look to improve upon their C-USA record from last season, and the quest for a conference tournament berth begins against UAB.
The Golden Eagles and Blazers split their two-match series last season in Hattiesburg, with UAB winning the first match in four sets and Southern Miss taking the second. Kinsley Hanback and Duquesne Moratzka led their squad offensively in the March 8 victory, recording 23 of the team's 50 kills, while Kenzie Smith dished out 39 assists.
The Blazers host Southern Miss with a 4-6 record in non conference play. UAB last hosted the Green Wave Invitational, which was moved to Birmingham from New Orleans, La. due to the effects of Hurricane Ida on the original host, Tulane's, campus. UAB suffered defeats against Texas Tech and Tulane and picked up a win over Sam Houston.
Southern Miss last took the floor on Tuesday, Sept. 21 at the Wellness Center against Southeastern. Despite a strong start and impressive offensive performances, the Golden Eagles fell in five sets to the Lady Lions.
Mia Wesley, Lauren Talbert, Hanback and Moratzka all recorded 10 or more kills in Tuesday night's match, with Talbert recording a season-high 17 kills. Smith dished out a career-high 56 assists in the loss.
Southern Miss and UAB have a long, storied history of competition, with 54 matches spanning four decades. The series has been competitive, with each team holding 27 victories since their first matchup in 1981. The Golden Eagles have won seven of the last 10 matchups between the programs.
The Golden Eagles look to improve upon their record and start the conference portion of their season off right with a pair of victories against the Blazers. Southern Miss last defeated UAB twice in a single season in 2015, winning one game in Birmingham and another in Hattiesburg.
Southern Miss takes on the UAB Blazers on Friday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. and on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. The matches will take place in Birmingham, Ala. at Bartow Arena. Fans can catch the action on CUSA.tv and follow the Golden Eagles on Twitter and Instagram at @SouthernMissVB and Facebook at facebook.com/SouthernMissVB.
History vs. UAB:
- Southern Miss and UAB are set to face off for the 55th and 56th time in their respective histories. The all-time series is currently tied, 27-27.
- The Golden Eagles and Blazers last faced off in a pair of matches last season at the Wellness Center. UAB won the first match before Southern Miss took the nightcap in four sets.
- The first matchup between the programs took place on exactly 40 years prior to Saturday's match, with the Blazers winning, 2-0
- Head coach Stephanie Radecki holds a 2-2 record against UAB in her time with Southern Miss.
- Duquesne Moratzka and Kinsley Hanback combined for 23 kills in the Golden Eagles' 3-1 victory over UAB on March 8, 2021.
Quick Hits:
- The Southern Miss volleyball program travels to Birmingham, Ala. to face off with the UAB Blazers on Friday, Sept. 24 and Saturday, Sept. 25.
- The two matches between the Golden Eagles and Blazers will serve as the first Conference USA action for both programs.
- Head coach Stephanie Radecki and her team hold a record of 8-6 heading into this weekend's series
- The Golden Eagles last faced off against Southeastern, falling in five sets to the Lady Lions.
- Southern Miss has played UAB more than any other Conference USA opponent in program history.
- With a record of 8-6, Southern Miss currently sits in third place of the C-USA West Division.
Season Highlights:
- The Golden Eagles feature three athletes who have recorded over 100 kills this season. Mia Wesley (185), Duquesne Moratzka (138) and Kinsley Hanback (118) have led their team offensively this year.
- Aliah Giroux leads the Golden Eagles defensively with 220 digs.
- Hanback holds the best hitting percentage on the team, hitting at an efficient .341 clip in 2021.
- The Golden Eagles leads the NCAA in kills (737) and assists, and sits behind only Arkansas State in digs (891) throughout the 2021 season.
- Smith leads the nation in total assists as of Sept. 23, with 562 to starther junior campaign
- Southern Miss holds the best home record in Conference USA as of Sept. 22, as the Golden Eagles have gone 7-1 in Hattiesburg.
Players Mentioned
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
MH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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