Volleyball to Host Troy to Close Four-Game Homestand

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss volleyball team continues its four-game homestand this weekend with Troy at the Southern Miss Wellness Center on Friday and Saturday. The Golden Eagles (9-5, 1-1 Sun Belt) will battle the Trojans (7-7, 1-1 Sun Belt) on Friday at 6 p.m., followed by a 3 p.m. contest on Saturday afternoon. Admission to the matches is free.

Follow Along
- Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
- Follow @SouthernMissVB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Southern Miss Bits
The Golden Eagles are coming off the opening weekend of Sun Belt play with a solid showing against South Alabama, the reigning Sun Belt Tournament champion. The Jaguars took Friday's match in four sets, but Southern Miss bounced back on Saturday to take the finale in five sets. Megan Harris, who won Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week, went for a career-high 31 digs on Friday night and added another 29 on Saturday. Harris joined sophomore Mia Wesley as Southern Miss Sun Belt award winners -- Wesley has twice been named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week.

Sophomore middle blocker Cara Atkinson recorded a career-high 15 kills on Saturday after going for 11 the night prior. The Alabama native also had eight blocks over the weekend and added two service aces. Wesley continues to lead the Sun Belt in attacks per set (14.00), kills per set (5.30), points per set (6.03) and total kills (281). Nationally, she ranks fifth in kills per set, third in points per set and second in total kills. Senior setter Kenzie Smith leads the Sun Belt in assists per set (10.96) and ranks ninth nationally.

Scouting the Trojans
Troy comes to Hattiesburg with a 7-7 overall record. It opened Sun Belt play with a five-set win against Louisiana on Friday but fell in three sets to the Ragin' Cajuns in the second match on Saturday. Sophomore outside hitter Tori Hester leads Troy on the offensive side of the ball with 224 total kills and averages 4.07 kills per set. Setter Amara Anderson has an even 500 assists on the year and averages 9.26 assists per set. Junior middle blocker Julia Brooks leads the way for the Trojans with 42.0 blocks and posted a season-best 7.0 against Chattanooga on Aug. 27.

Series History
Friday's match will be the 12^th overall in the series with Southern Miss holding a 6-5 lead. The Golden Eagles took the 2021 contest, 3-1, in Alabama's preseason tournament. Southern Miss is 3-1 against Troy in matches played in Hattiesburg

Volleyball to Host Troy to Close Four-Game Homestand

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Players Mentioned

Cara Atkinson

Megan Harris

Kenzie Smith

Mia Wesley

University of Southern Mississippi Athletics