Southern Miss Falls in Four Sets to UAB

Saturday, September 25

Birmingham, Ala.

2 p.m.

Southern Miss

-88,02 CUSA

UAB

-66,20 CUSA

Southern Miss.

UAB

Southern Miss Falls in Four Sets to UAB

9/25/2021 6:25:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Despite a combined 32 kills from Mia Wesley and Lauren Talbert, the Golden Eagles fell to the UAB Blazers in four sets. Southern Miss moves to an 8-8 record with a 0-2 mark in Conference USA play.

Aliah Giroux and Kenzie Smith tallied 35 of the Golden Eagles' 6 digs throughout the match, while Duquesne Moratzka led her team with a .455 hitting percentage. Maddie Stayer and Smith combined for 35 assists throughout the match.

Set One, Southern Miss 19, UAB 25: The Golden Eagles fell behind early and were unable to recover as the Blazers won the set, 25-19. Six players from Southern Miss recorded kills in the opening frame, with Wesley leading her team with three.

Southern Miss struggled in the hitting game, finishing the frame with a percentage of .086. Smith, Stayer and Giroux combined for eight assists.

Set Two, Southern Miss 30, UAB 28: Southern Miss battled back and overcame the Blazers to win the second set, 30-28 after some extra volleyball. Wesley shined in the second frame, with six kills at a .357 clip, while the Golden Eagle defenders held UAB to a hitting percentage of .151.

The backcourt of Southern Miss racked up 21 digs in the second set, led by Giroux's nine. The trio of Stayer, Smith and Giroux dished out 13 assists to help the Golden Eagles tie the match 1-1 heading into the third set.

Set Three, Southern Miss 23, UAB 25: Despite leading the Blazers in kills, 14-12, the Golden Eagles dropped a third close set, 25-23. Talbert led her squad with seven of her team's 14 kills.

Southern Miss was held to a hitting percentage of .143, compared to UAB's .275. The backcourt racked up 18 kills as a unit during the third frame.

Set Four, Southern Miss 21, UAB 25: Wesley recorded seven kills on 14 total attempts in the fourth set, but it was not enough to force a fifth frame. The Golden Eagles dropped their match to UAB, 3-1.

Up Next:
The Golden Eagles return home to the Wellness Center next week for a Conference USA series against UTSA. The matches begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 1 and at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2. Admission is free and the action can be seen on ESPN+. Follow Southern Miss volleyball on Twitter and Instagram at @SouthernMissVB and on Facebook at facebook.com/SouthernMissVB.