Saturday, August 27
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
3 p.m.
Southern Miss
2-1,0-0Sun Belt
1
at
3
Alabama
3-0,0-0SEC
1
2
3
4
F
Southern Miss.
18
25
27
22
1
Alabama
25
27
25
25
3
Southern Miss Falls in Four Sets in Finale of Crimson Tide Invite
8/27/2022 8:59:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Southern Miss volleyball fought off a pair of match points in the third set, but ultimately fell in four sets (18-25, 25-27, 27-25, 22-25) against Alabama on Saturday afternoon at Foster Auditorium.
"In that first set we missed seven serves and that's not been an issue for us in those first two matches," Hazelwood said following the loss. "I think we kind of lost a little bit of focus there and that's a part of our learning process. I thought we settled in really well with our serving game and we were right there in every set. We had set point in set two, pulled out a close one in set three and were close at the end there in set four."
Setter Kenzie Smith recorded the first double-double of the season for the Black and Gold with 31 assists and 10 digs and was joined in double-digits digs by Megan Harris (20), Lindsey Legg (15) and Aliah Giroux (13).
"Defensively, I thought we were outstanding," Hazelwood added. "Our back court play from Megan, Aliah and Lindsey was fantastic. They were so gritty and made it so hard to score on us. When Kenzie's back row, her defense was phenomenal as well."
Mia Wesley, led all student-athletes in kills for the third-straight match with 21 kills to cap off a 51 kill weekend and just missed joining Smith with a double-double of her own, as she finished the match with nine digs.
"The margins are so small in these types of matches that a mental mistake on an assignment here or there can be the difference in the match. We're learning those lessons together and moving on. Our players understand that and embrace that. We got better as a team as that match went on and I'm proud of the way we executed," concluded Hazelwood.
Southern Miss returns to action next weekend at the Mercer Bears Classic. First serve from Macon, Ga. is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT against the host Bears.
"In that first set we missed seven serves and that's not been an issue for us in those first two matches," Hazelwood said following the loss. "I think we kind of lost a little bit of focus there and that's a part of our learning process. I thought we settled in really well with our serving game and we were right there in every set. We had set point in set two, pulled out a close one in set three and were close at the end there in set four."
Setter Kenzie Smith recorded the first double-double of the season for the Black and Gold with 31 assists and 10 digs and was joined in double-digits digs by Megan Harris (20), Lindsey Legg (15) and Aliah Giroux (13).
"Defensively, I thought we were outstanding," Hazelwood added. "Our back court play from Megan, Aliah and Lindsey was fantastic. They were so gritty and made it so hard to score on us. When Kenzie's back row, her defense was phenomenal as well."
Mia Wesley, led all student-athletes in kills for the third-straight match with 21 kills to cap off a 51 kill weekend and just missed joining Smith with a double-double of her own, as she finished the match with nine digs.
"The margins are so small in these types of matches that a mental mistake on an assignment here or there can be the difference in the match. We're learning those lessons together and moving on. Our players understand that and embrace that. We got better as a team as that match went on and I'm proud of the way we executed," concluded Hazelwood.
Southern Miss returns to action next weekend at the Mercer Bears Classic. First serve from Macon, Ga. is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT against the host Bears.
Team Stats
USM
Bama
Kills
41
50
Errors
25
25
Attempts
133
157
Hitting %
.120
.159
Points
49
75.5
Assists
38
43
Aces
3
14
Blocks
5
11.5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
21
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
3
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
3
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
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