Saturday, September 10
Hattiesburg, Miss.
3 p.m.
Southern Miss
6-2,0-0Sun Belt
3
vs
0
MVSU
0-6,0-0SWAC
1
2
3
F
Mississippi Val.
9
13
9
0
Southern Miss.
25
25
25
3
Golden Eagles Sweep Day Two to Win Southern Miss Invitational
9/10/2022 8:57:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss volleyball wrapped up the Southern Miss Invitational with wins against Mississippi Valley State (25-9, 25-13, 25-9) and Houston Baptist (25-21, 27-25, 25-22) at the Southern Miss Wellness Center on Saturday. The wins gave the Golden Eagles the tournament title and moved them to 7-2 on the season. Redshirt senior Kenzie Smith was named tournament MVP and Mia Wesley was named to the All-Tournament Team.
"I am really proud of the way we responded today after playing a tough, five-set match last night against a really talented Stephen. F Austin team," said head coach Jenny Hazelwood. "That was a Houston Baptist team that had not dropped a set this weekend and we came out swinging. We are in a good spot as we get ready for the last preseason tournament next weekend at Jacksonville State."
Southern Miss 3, Mississippi Valley State 0 (25-9, 25-13, 25-9)
The Golden Eagles cruised to a convincing win against in-state foe Mississippi Valley State on Saturday afternoon. Wesley paced Southern Miss with a game-high 12 kills on 18 attempts for a .611 hitting clip. In total, nine different Golden Eagles recorded a kill in the three-set sweep. Cara Atkinson continued her hot play by adding eight kills on 12 attempts.
Smith dished out 26 assists to go along with six digs and a kill. While making her first collegiate start, freshman Cailin Demps recorded three kills. Nyanuer Bidit and Izzy Kronenberg each had three kills as well, while Liana Guillemaud finished with two. The other Golden Eagles that recorded a kill included Madi Bowles, Reagan Leinen and Smith.
Southern Miss 3, Houston Baptist 0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-22)
Southern Miss took the first set from the Huskies via a five-kill opening frame from Wesley. The Golden Eagles closed out the set on a 6-1 run that culminated in an Ari Barksdale and Demps block to secure the opening frame. Gillian Hidalgo, Barksdale and Smith each went for two kills in the set, while Smith dished out nine assists. Both sides struggled offensively with Southern Miss hitting .114 and Houston Baptist hitting -.024, though the Huskies recorded three blocks on the Golden Eagles.
The Black and Gold saw themselves staring down a 24-22 deficit but backed by a raucous crowd they fought back to take the second set, 27-25. Back-to-back blocks by Southern Miss assisted in the set win after Wesley paced it with seven kills in the set. Demps added another four kills as the freshman made an immediate impact after earning her first start against Mississippi Valley State earlier in the day. Facing another deficit at 15-10 in the third set, Southern Miss stormed back again thanks to a 5-1 run and three-straight service aces from Wesley.
A stretch of errors from Houston Baptist gave Southern Miss a 21-20 lead and it never looked back. A Demps and Barksdale block would give the Golden Eagles match point and then a service error from the Huskies sealed the tournament championship for Southern Miss. Wesley finished with a game-high 18 kills and 11 digs to secure a double-double. Smith dished out 33 assists and 15 digs to earn another double-double.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles will head to Jacksonville State next weekend for the JSU Invitational where they will meet Auburn, Jacksonville State and Jackson State. First serve against Auburn is slated for 1:30 p.m.
"I am really proud of the way we responded today after playing a tough, five-set match last night against a really talented Stephen. F Austin team," said head coach Jenny Hazelwood. "That was a Houston Baptist team that had not dropped a set this weekend and we came out swinging. We are in a good spot as we get ready for the last preseason tournament next weekend at Jacksonville State."
Southern Miss 3, Mississippi Valley State 0 (25-9, 25-13, 25-9)
The Golden Eagles cruised to a convincing win against in-state foe Mississippi Valley State on Saturday afternoon. Wesley paced Southern Miss with a game-high 12 kills on 18 attempts for a .611 hitting clip. In total, nine different Golden Eagles recorded a kill in the three-set sweep. Cara Atkinson continued her hot play by adding eight kills on 12 attempts.
Smith dished out 26 assists to go along with six digs and a kill. While making her first collegiate start, freshman Cailin Demps recorded three kills. Nyanuer Bidit and Izzy Kronenberg each had three kills as well, while Liana Guillemaud finished with two. The other Golden Eagles that recorded a kill included Madi Bowles, Reagan Leinen and Smith.
Southern Miss 3, Houston Baptist 0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-22)
Southern Miss took the first set from the Huskies via a five-kill opening frame from Wesley. The Golden Eagles closed out the set on a 6-1 run that culminated in an Ari Barksdale and Demps block to secure the opening frame. Gillian Hidalgo, Barksdale and Smith each went for two kills in the set, while Smith dished out nine assists. Both sides struggled offensively with Southern Miss hitting .114 and Houston Baptist hitting -.024, though the Huskies recorded three blocks on the Golden Eagles.
The Black and Gold saw themselves staring down a 24-22 deficit but backed by a raucous crowd they fought back to take the second set, 27-25. Back-to-back blocks by Southern Miss assisted in the set win after Wesley paced it with seven kills in the set. Demps added another four kills as the freshman made an immediate impact after earning her first start against Mississippi Valley State earlier in the day. Facing another deficit at 15-10 in the third set, Southern Miss stormed back again thanks to a 5-1 run and three-straight service aces from Wesley.
A stretch of errors from Houston Baptist gave Southern Miss a 21-20 lead and it never looked back. A Demps and Barksdale block would give the Golden Eagles match point and then a service error from the Huskies sealed the tournament championship for Southern Miss. Wesley finished with a game-high 18 kills and 11 digs to secure a double-double. Smith dished out 33 assists and 15 digs to earn another double-double.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles will head to Jacksonville State next weekend for the JSU Invitational where they will meet Auburn, Jacksonville State and Jackson State. First serve against Auburn is slated for 1:30 p.m.
Team Stats
MVSU
USM
Kills
16
34
Errors
19
7
Attempts
76
61
Hitting %
-.039
.443
Points
21
49
Assists
13
30
Aces
2
11
Blocks
3
4
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
3
Blocks
0
Kills
3
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
3
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's VolleyballOH
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