Friday, September 23
Hattiesburg, Miss.
6 p.m.
Southern Miss
8-5,0-1Sun Belt
1
vs
3
South Alabama
7-6,1-0Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
F
South Alabama
25
21
25
28
3
Southern Miss.
21
25
21
26
1
Comeback Attempt Falls Short in Sun Belt Volleyball Opener
9/23/2022 9:14:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss -- The Southern Miss (8-5, 0-1 Sun Belt) volleyball team dropped its Sun Belt opener to South Alabama (7-6, 1-0 Sun Blet) in four sets (25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 28-26) on Friday night in front of a packed Southern Miss Wellness Center. The Golden Eagles' two-headed monster of Mia Wesley and Kenzie Smith did not disappoint as the duo combined for 27 kills and 50 assists.
Southern Miss and South Alabama combined for 14 ties over the first two sets as the two teams each took a set from one another. With the first set tied at 10-all, South Alabama used a 6-2 run to pull ahead on the Golden Eagles. An Ari Barksdale kill and two South Alabama attacking errors made it 23-20 in favor of the road team, but that's as close as the Golden Eagles would get before a pair of South Alabama kills sealed a 25-21 win. The Golden Eagles hit .444 as a team in the opening set.
Freshman Cailin Demps took over in the second set to propel the Golden Eagles to a 25-21 win. Demps recorded four kills and a block in the second set, while Cara Atkinson added three kills and a block. Per usual, Wesley went for five kills in the set. South Alabama took a firm grasp of the momentum in the third set as they grabbed a 1-0 lead and never relinquished it. It would lead by as many as six before South Miss cut the deficit to 20-19 on an Atkinson kill. Wesley would briefly make it 24-21, but the Jaguars went on to respond and win the set, 25-21.
The fourth set featured six ties and two lead changes, but South Alabama would hang on to win, 28-26. Demps and Wesley each had six kills in the set, while Madi Bowles had two of her four kills in the final frame. The Golden Eagles had set point at 26-25, but a kill, Southern Miss attacking error and Jaguar block would seal the victory. Wesley's game-high 26 kills came with a .250 hitting percentage, while Atkinson finished with 11 kills and a .500 hitting percentage.
Sophomore Megan Harris exploded for a career-high 32 digs, which was the most of any player on either team. Demps finished with a career-high 12 kills after setting her previous best last weekend. South Alabama's net presence did not go unnoticed as it finished with 12 blocks.
Southern Miss and South Alabama will meet again on Saturday with the first serve scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Southern Miss Wellness Center. Admission is free.
Southern Miss and South Alabama combined for 14 ties over the first two sets as the two teams each took a set from one another. With the first set tied at 10-all, South Alabama used a 6-2 run to pull ahead on the Golden Eagles. An Ari Barksdale kill and two South Alabama attacking errors made it 23-20 in favor of the road team, but that's as close as the Golden Eagles would get before a pair of South Alabama kills sealed a 25-21 win. The Golden Eagles hit .444 as a team in the opening set.
Freshman Cailin Demps took over in the second set to propel the Golden Eagles to a 25-21 win. Demps recorded four kills and a block in the second set, while Cara Atkinson added three kills and a block. Per usual, Wesley went for five kills in the set. South Alabama took a firm grasp of the momentum in the third set as they grabbed a 1-0 lead and never relinquished it. It would lead by as many as six before South Miss cut the deficit to 20-19 on an Atkinson kill. Wesley would briefly make it 24-21, but the Jaguars went on to respond and win the set, 25-21.
The fourth set featured six ties and two lead changes, but South Alabama would hang on to win, 28-26. Demps and Wesley each had six kills in the set, while Madi Bowles had two of her four kills in the final frame. The Golden Eagles had set point at 26-25, but a kill, Southern Miss attacking error and Jaguar block would seal the victory. Wesley's game-high 26 kills came with a .250 hitting percentage, while Atkinson finished with 11 kills and a .500 hitting percentage.
Sophomore Megan Harris exploded for a career-high 32 digs, which was the most of any player on either team. Demps finished with a career-high 12 kills after setting her previous best last weekend. South Alabama's net presence did not go unnoticed as it finished with 12 blocks.
Southern Miss and South Alabama will meet again on Saturday with the first serve scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Southern Miss Wellness Center. Admission is free.
Team Stats
USA
USM
Kills
60
58
Errors
19
27
Attempts
160
159
Hitting %
.256
.195
Points
75
70
Assists
57
56
Aces
3
4
Blocks
12
8
Game Leaders
Kills
26
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
5
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ 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