Golden Eagles Blow Past Georgia State in Weekend Opener

Friday, October 28

Hattiesburg, Miss.

6 p.m.

Southern Miss

Georgia State

Golden Eagles Blow Past Georgia State in Weekend Opener

10/28/2022 7:38:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss volleyball team extended its winning streak to three after dismantling Georgia State (5-18, 1-10 Sun Belt) in straight sets (25-22, 25-11, 25-11) on Friday night. The Golden Eagles (15-8, 7-4 Sun Belt) hit .284 as a team in the win.

Cara Atkinson got the Golden Eagles off to a statement start in the first set as she denied the first Georgia State attack at the net with an emphatic block. Aliah Giroux then delivered back-to-back services aces before a Mia Wesley kill made it 4-0 in the blink of an eye. The Panthers would tie it with a 4-0 run of their own, but Southern Miss quickly answered a few points later with a 7-0 run to make it 15-8 on a Wesley hot streak behind the service line. The Golden Eagles then closed out the set on an 11-2 run that culminated in a Liana Guillemaud kill.

The second set resulted in the same final score, 25-11, but it was all Southern Miss for the entirety of the frame. Wesley smoked five kills in the set, but it was freshman Cailin Demps that came in and stole the show. The Tallahassee, Fla. native had four second set kills as Kenzie Smith was feeding the freshman in the offensive system. Smith and Atkinson each had three kills in the set, which helped the Golden Eagles hit an impressive .433 as a team. The Golden Eagles held Georgia State to a .050 hitting percentage in the set.

Southern Miss took the third set in dramatic fashion as it halted a Georgia State comeback attempt when Wesley slammed her 13^th and final kill of the match to take home the Halloween themed match. Wesley finished two service aces shy of a triple-double after adding 10 digs with her kill total. Atkinson and Demps each finished with seven kills, while Demps his .385 in the three-set win. Smith finished her night with 27 assists, six kills and four digs.

Southern Miss will recognize seniors Nyanuer Bidit, Lauren Talbert, Liana Guillemaud, Lindsey Legg, Gillian Hidalgo, Madison Bowles and Kenzie Smith on Saturday after the match. First serve from the Wellness Center is slated for 2 p.m.