Volleyball Falls to Texas State in Four Sets

Friday, October 13

Southern Miss Wellness Center

6 p.m.

Southern Miss

7-11,2-5Sun Belt

Texas State

11-7,4-3Sun Belt

Texas St.

Southern Miss.

Volleyball Falls to Texas State in Four Sets

10/13/2023 10:04:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

HATTIESBURG, Miss.-After taking the first set of Friday's match against Texas State (11-7, 4-3 Sun Belt), Southern Miss (7-11, 2-5 Sun Belt) dropped the following three sets (25-20, 22-25, 17-25, 11-25) to the Bobcats, snapping an eight-game home winning streak inside the Wellness Center.

While Southern Miss jumped ahead first, Texas State bounced back from a .027 clip in the opening set and outhit the Golden Eagles altogether in the match .252 to .108.

Junior Mia Wesley led Southern Miss with 12 kills and added nine digs. Five of her kills came in the first set, helping the Golden Eagles start with an early lead in the game.

The Orem, Utah native got the Golden Eagles on the board first and then extended Southern Miss' lead to four at 10-6. She also notched a service ace in the set, getting the Golden Eagles to 15 first.

Southern Miss made impact plays defensively in the first set with four total blocks, as freshman Sadie McAda combined for a pair and junior Cara Atkinson pushed the team ahead late in the set with a kill and a solo block. The block marked a milestone No. 200 career blocks for Atkinson.

Wesley then gave Southern Miss the match point with a kill, and a Texas State service error led the team to a 25-22 victory.

The second set was the most contested period of the game, with 12 ties and four lead changes as both teams fought back and forth. Junior Ari Barksdale caught a rhythm in the set, recording four of her six kills, helping the team stay tied with the Bobcats at 16 apiece.

Southern Miss responded to a 5-0 run from Texas State, narrowing the lead to just two points again, but the Golden Eagles' efforts fell short as Bailey Hanner closed the set at 25-22 with a kill.

The Bobcats capitalized on its momentum, fighting from an early deficit and taking the lead on a 3-0 run. Texas State kept ahead for the remainder of the period, orchestrating a 4-0 run, and closing the period at 25-17.

Southern Miss was overpowered in the fourth set, as the Bobcats hit at a .381 hitting percentage and rolled ahead on an 8-0 run to take a 19-6 lead. Texas State finalized the game with a 25-11 set victory, handing the Golden Eagles their first home loss of the season.

As a part of Block Out Cancer night, Southern Miss notched a total of six blocks to help raise $600 for the Forrest General Cancer Center, courtesy of donations from Raanes & Oliver Capital Advisors.

Up Next

Southern Miss returns to action tomorrow at 2 p.m. against the Texas State. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.