Southern Miss Falls in Two Matches Against Tulane to Close Out 2022
4/23/2022 5:36:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
NEW ORLEANS – The Golden Eagles finish 11-24 (1-3 C-USA) after dropping both matches of the doubleheader to Tulane, becoming the third team to tie the previous record win total, joining the 2019 and 2021 squads.
"Tulane did a great job adapting in some windy conditions," Shawn Taylor said. The head coach continued, "We struggled to consistently match their level of play. Breleigh Favre and Aleksandra Chudzik did a great job of battling back in the first match and claiming a third set victory. It was a good final tune up as we know wind is always a possibility in Huntsville. Looking forward to seeing our first-round draw for the conference championship and starting postseason play."
Game 1: Tulane 4, Southern Miss 1
Southern Miss opened the day against the familiar Green Wave at 10:45 a.m. in blustery conditions at White Sands Beach Volleyball. The match would be the tenth all-time against Tulane and the first to be played Uptown.
Southern Miss and Coach Taylor trotted out a familiar lineup with Breleigh Favre and Aleksandra Chudzik starting their 14th match as the Golden Eagle No. 1s. Vanessa Hurnikova and Kellie Garraway returned to the second position for the 13th time in the last 14 matches.
At the third pair, Olivia Hepworth and Taylor Pierce made their 22nd start. Hallie Phelan and Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou marked a nickel of matches together is as many games. Rounding out the lineup, Golden Eagle fifth position pairing Carmen Sanchez Delgado and Kai Norman returned for their fourth appearance in five matches.
No. 1 pair Chudzik/Favre would take the Black & Gold's only point of the morning, winning in three sets after a 15-11 rubber set victory. The pair's point would be the lone bright spot on the Golden Eagles' day as the wind ravaged the squad's attacks against Tulane.
Garraway/Hurnikova battled hard, but fell in two sets 11-21 and 18-21. Hepworth/Pierce failed to muster much more, losing in two 15-21 and 14-21.
The fourth and fifth pairs were unable to overcome the Green Wave each falling in two sets 18-21 & 17-21 and 17-21 & 13-21, respectively.
Southern Miss would fall to 11-22 on the year and 0-10 all-time to the Green Wave.
Game 2: Tulane 5, Southern Miss 0
After a brief respite from the windy conditions, Southern Miss returned to the sands of the Green Wave.
The Black & Gold would return the same pairs to their respective courts.
The Golden Eagles were unable to overcome the Tulane attack with each pair falling in two sets.
Fifth pair Carmen Sanchez Delgado and Kai Norman fell 20-22 and 18-21 and were followed by fourth pair Phelan/Siakidou Papakyriakou by scores of 21-23 and 17-21.
Third position duo Hepworth/Pierce would see less success, falling 14-21 and 19-21. Garraway/Hurnikova saw similar results in 9-21 and 11-21 decisions.
Tulane's top flight would exact their revenge on Chudzik/Favre for the previous match, this time dispatching the Golden Eagles' first pair 21-19 and 21-15.
Southern Miss finished 11-24 (1-3 C-USA) in 2022 and continue to struggle against Tulane, falling to 0-11 all time and 0-2 in true road games.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles return to action on Thursday, April 28 for the Conference USA Beach Volleyball Championships. Southern Miss has secured the sixth seed and will face the No. 3 seed to be determined later. The Black & Gold will play up to two matches on the first day before moving to the second day of the tournament.
If both matches are wins, the Golden Eagles will open day two with against either the No. 1, No. 4 or No. 5 seeds. Conversely, if Southern Miss falls in its first match, they will move to the losers' bracket and await the losing team from the No. 2/No. 7 match.
In between, the Golden Eagles could defeat the No. 3 seed, move to the second round of the losers' bracket and fall to the winner of the No. 2/No. 7 match. This would place them in the second round of the losers' bracket against either the No. 4 or No. 5 seed.
The final day of the tournament is set for Saturday, April 30 with the Championship match set for Noon.
Game 1: Tulane 4, Southern Miss 1
1. Breleigh Favre/Aleksandra Chudzik (USM) def. Kendall Peters/Maddie Speicher (TULANE) 21-11, 17-21, 15-11
2. Sara Hall/Samantha Mehlman (TULANE) def. Vanessa Hurnikova/Kellie Garraway (USM) 21-11, 21-18
3. Ashton Mares/Lara Torruella (TULANE) def. Taylor Pierce/Olivia Hepworth (USM) 21-15, 21-14
4. Josie Cole/Samantha Green (TULANE) def. Hallie Phelan/Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou (USM) 21-18, 21-16
5. Haley Gibson/Savka Popovic (TULANE) def. Carmen Sanchez Delgado/Kai Norman (USM) 21-17, 21-13
Game 2: Tulane 5, Southern Miss 0
1. Kendall Peters/Maddie Speicher (TULANE) def. Breleigh Favre/Aleksandra Chudzik (USM) 21-19, 21-15
2. Sara Hall/Samantha Mehlman (TULANE) def. Vanessa Hurnikova/Kellie Garraway (USM) 21-9, 21-11
3. Ashton Mares/Lara Torruella (TULANE) def. Taylor Pierce/Olivia Hepworth (USM) 21-14, 21-19
4. Josie Cole/Samantha Green (TULANE) def. Hallie Phelan/Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou (USM) 23-21, 21-17
5. Haley Gibson/Savka Popovic (TULANE) def. Carmen Sanchez Delgado/Kai Norman (USM) 22-20, 21-18
"Tulane did a great job adapting in some windy conditions," Shawn Taylor said. The head coach continued, "We struggled to consistently match their level of play. Breleigh Favre and Aleksandra Chudzik did a great job of battling back in the first match and claiming a third set victory. It was a good final tune up as we know wind is always a possibility in Huntsville. Looking forward to seeing our first-round draw for the conference championship and starting postseason play."
Game 1: Tulane 4, Southern Miss 1
Southern Miss opened the day against the familiar Green Wave at 10:45 a.m. in blustery conditions at White Sands Beach Volleyball. The match would be the tenth all-time against Tulane and the first to be played Uptown.
Southern Miss and Coach Taylor trotted out a familiar lineup with Breleigh Favre and Aleksandra Chudzik starting their 14th match as the Golden Eagle No. 1s. Vanessa Hurnikova and Kellie Garraway returned to the second position for the 13th time in the last 14 matches.
At the third pair, Olivia Hepworth and Taylor Pierce made their 22nd start. Hallie Phelan and Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou marked a nickel of matches together is as many games. Rounding out the lineup, Golden Eagle fifth position pairing Carmen Sanchez Delgado and Kai Norman returned for their fourth appearance in five matches.
No. 1 pair Chudzik/Favre would take the Black & Gold's only point of the morning, winning in three sets after a 15-11 rubber set victory. The pair's point would be the lone bright spot on the Golden Eagles' day as the wind ravaged the squad's attacks against Tulane.
Garraway/Hurnikova battled hard, but fell in two sets 11-21 and 18-21. Hepworth/Pierce failed to muster much more, losing in two 15-21 and 14-21.
The fourth and fifth pairs were unable to overcome the Green Wave each falling in two sets 18-21 & 17-21 and 17-21 & 13-21, respectively.
Southern Miss would fall to 11-22 on the year and 0-10 all-time to the Green Wave.
Game 2: Tulane 5, Southern Miss 0
After a brief respite from the windy conditions, Southern Miss returned to the sands of the Green Wave.
The Black & Gold would return the same pairs to their respective courts.
The Golden Eagles were unable to overcome the Tulane attack with each pair falling in two sets.
Fifth pair Carmen Sanchez Delgado and Kai Norman fell 20-22 and 18-21 and were followed by fourth pair Phelan/Siakidou Papakyriakou by scores of 21-23 and 17-21.
Third position duo Hepworth/Pierce would see less success, falling 14-21 and 19-21. Garraway/Hurnikova saw similar results in 9-21 and 11-21 decisions.
Tulane's top flight would exact their revenge on Chudzik/Favre for the previous match, this time dispatching the Golden Eagles' first pair 21-19 and 21-15.
Southern Miss finished 11-24 (1-3 C-USA) in 2022 and continue to struggle against Tulane, falling to 0-11 all time and 0-2 in true road games.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles return to action on Thursday, April 28 for the Conference USA Beach Volleyball Championships. Southern Miss has secured the sixth seed and will face the No. 3 seed to be determined later. The Black & Gold will play up to two matches on the first day before moving to the second day of the tournament.
If both matches are wins, the Golden Eagles will open day two with against either the No. 1, No. 4 or No. 5 seeds. Conversely, if Southern Miss falls in its first match, they will move to the losers' bracket and await the losing team from the No. 2/No. 7 match.
In between, the Golden Eagles could defeat the No. 3 seed, move to the second round of the losers' bracket and fall to the winner of the No. 2/No. 7 match. This would place them in the second round of the losers' bracket against either the No. 4 or No. 5 seed.
The final day of the tournament is set for Saturday, April 30 with the Championship match set for Noon.
Game 1: Tulane 4, Southern Miss 1
1. Breleigh Favre/Aleksandra Chudzik (USM) def. Kendall Peters/Maddie Speicher (TULANE) 21-11, 17-21, 15-11
2. Sara Hall/Samantha Mehlman (TULANE) def. Vanessa Hurnikova/Kellie Garraway (USM) 21-11, 21-18
3. Ashton Mares/Lara Torruella (TULANE) def. Taylor Pierce/Olivia Hepworth (USM) 21-15, 21-14
4. Josie Cole/Samantha Green (TULANE) def. Hallie Phelan/Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou (USM) 21-18, 21-16
5. Haley Gibson/Savka Popovic (TULANE) def. Carmen Sanchez Delgado/Kai Norman (USM) 21-17, 21-13
Game 2: Tulane 5, Southern Miss 0
1. Kendall Peters/Maddie Speicher (TULANE) def. Breleigh Favre/Aleksandra Chudzik (USM) 21-19, 21-15
2. Sara Hall/Samantha Mehlman (TULANE) def. Vanessa Hurnikova/Kellie Garraway (USM) 21-9, 21-11
3. Ashton Mares/Lara Torruella (TULANE) def. Taylor Pierce/Olivia Hepworth (USM) 21-14, 21-19
4. Josie Cole/Samantha Green (TULANE) def. Hallie Phelan/Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou (USM) 23-21, 21-17
5. Haley Gibson/Savka Popovic (TULANE) def. Carmen Sanchez Delgado/Kai Norman (USM) 22-20, 21-18
– Twitter: @SouthernMissBVB | SouthernMiss.com | Instagram: @southernmissbvb –
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