Friday, August 26
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
10 a.m.
Southern Miss
3
vs
0
UTSA
Hazelwood Era Begins with Volleyball’s 600th Win in Program History
8/26/2022 12:48:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Southern Miss volleyball made quick work of former Conference USA foe UTSA in the season opener at Foster Auditorium, defeating the Roadrunners in straight sets (25-23, 25-21, 25-16) to kick off the 2022 campaign.
"We've been training all spring long with the majority of this group and the new girls who have joined us since. It was nice to see us put it all together and just a great opening match for us," Hazelwood said. "To come out and see our players execute a number of things that we've been working on was really positive. Seeing that progress of where we were to where we are now, and this is only match one is really exciting."
Mia Wesley led all student-athletes with 16 kills and just missed a double-double, as the sophomore added nine digs, while devastating UTSA from the service line with a career-high five aces.
"She's such a unique player because she understand the game at such a high level," Hazelwood said of Wesley. "She had to have scored half of her kills on off-speed attacks. That's what's so special about Mia, she's not someone that always has to have the big, glorified kill on the swing. She'll score on you however she can to win. It's cool to see her complete skill set come out like it did today."
Wesley was met in double-figures by Cara Atkinson, who added 10 kills, while Ari Barksdale set a new career-best and was joined by freshman Cailin Demps in her debut with seven kills each.
"The crazy thing is that Cailin wasn't even taking a full-speed approach with her steps until later in the match when she became more comfortable." Hazelwood added on Demp's debut. "We were trying to get her to go and be more aggressive and I think you saw that by the end of the match by the way her kills hit the floor. She's going to be something special for our program."
Setter Kenzie Smith dished out 40 assists to open the season, marking the 13th time in her career that she's finished with 40 or more helpers, with Aliah Giroux leading the defensive charge with 12 digs.
Behind Wesley's five, the Golden Eagles added twelve aces with three from Aliah Giroux and a pair from Atkinson for the most in a match since beginning the 2021 season with 13 against MVSU.
"I loved how we had players come off the bench and help change the momentum of the match in moments where we needed it. That's going to be one of our strengths all year, we've got the depth to make those switches at a high level," Hazelwood concluded.
The Golden Eagles return to action later this afternoon with a 3:30 p.m. CT matchup with McNeese.
"We've been training all spring long with the majority of this group and the new girls who have joined us since. It was nice to see us put it all together and just a great opening match for us," Hazelwood said. "To come out and see our players execute a number of things that we've been working on was really positive. Seeing that progress of where we were to where we are now, and this is only match one is really exciting."
Mia Wesley led all student-athletes with 16 kills and just missed a double-double, as the sophomore added nine digs, while devastating UTSA from the service line with a career-high five aces.
"She's such a unique player because she understand the game at such a high level," Hazelwood said of Wesley. "She had to have scored half of her kills on off-speed attacks. That's what's so special about Mia, she's not someone that always has to have the big, glorified kill on the swing. She'll score on you however she can to win. It's cool to see her complete skill set come out like it did today."
Wesley was met in double-figures by Cara Atkinson, who added 10 kills, while Ari Barksdale set a new career-best and was joined by freshman Cailin Demps in her debut with seven kills each.
"The crazy thing is that Cailin wasn't even taking a full-speed approach with her steps until later in the match when she became more comfortable." Hazelwood added on Demp's debut. "We were trying to get her to go and be more aggressive and I think you saw that by the end of the match by the way her kills hit the floor. She's going to be something special for our program."
Setter Kenzie Smith dished out 40 assists to open the season, marking the 13th time in her career that she's finished with 40 or more helpers, with Aliah Giroux leading the defensive charge with 12 digs.
Behind Wesley's five, the Golden Eagles added twelve aces with three from Aliah Giroux and a pair from Atkinson for the most in a match since beginning the 2021 season with 13 against MVSU.
"I loved how we had players come off the bench and help change the momentum of the match in moments where we needed it. That's going to be one of our strengths all year, we've got the depth to make those switches at a high level," Hazelwood concluded.
The Golden Eagles return to action later this afternoon with a 3:30 p.m. CT matchup with McNeese.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballEpisode 5: Forged In Fire
Wednesday, November 29
Episode 4:Forged In Fire
Friday, November 03
Volleyball HC Jenny Hazelwood and Junior Mia Wesley- Arkansas State Postgame
Saturday, October 21
Episode 3: Forged In Fire
Thursday, October 19