Volleyball Travels to Arkansas State For Pair of Conference Matches

HATTIESBURG, Miss.-Southern Miss Volleyball (7-12, 2-6 Sun Belt) begins a four-game road stretch, starting with a pair of matches in Jonesboro, Ark. against the Arkansas State Red Wolves (11-9, 1-7 Sun Belt) on Oct. 19-20.

The Golden Eagles will start play in the First National Bank Arena on Thursday at 6 p.m., followed by a second contest at 6 p.m. on Friday.

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Southern Miss is coming off its first losses at home this season after dropping two matches against Texas State in the Wellness Center.

While the Golden Eagles took the first set of the weekend, the Bobcats won the following six sets, including comebacks from more than five points in three sets.

While Texas State hit at .200, the Bobcats held Southern Miss to hit at a combined .116 clip over the weekend. Defensively, Texas State also limited the Southern Miss attack with a conference-high in digs and blocks per set last weekend.

The Golden Eagles now look to bounce back on the road against an Arkansas State team that has lost six straight matches in conference play this season.

Southern Miss Quick Hits

Outside of two neutral site wins, Southern Miss is 1-7 in away matches so far this season.

Sophomore setter Ella Voorhees recorded 60 assists last week, ranking third in the conference with 8.57 assists per set.

Libero Megan Harris tallied 31 digs, ranking sixth in the conference last week with 4.43 digs per set. Through four conference series, the Nestbit, Miss. native leads the Sun Belt with 5.40 digs per set for 135 digs in conference play.

Southern Miss ranks second in the Sun Belt and 46th in Division One Volleyball with 15.79 digs per set.

After recording 24 kills last week, junior Mia Wesley trails the No. 9 spot for most kills in program history by 48 kills.

Arkansas State Quick Hits

Arkansas State is led by second-year head coach Brian Gerwig. In his first season at the helm, Arkansas State finished the 2022 campaign with a 9-22 record and advanced to the Sun Belt Championship Quarterfinals.

The Red Wolves have lost six consecutive matches, dropping its series versus Louisiana, South Alabama and Troy.

Arkansas State has hit .107 in conference games, while allowing an opponent hitting percentage of .271.

Freshman Kaitlin Whitlock leads Arkansas State with 186 kills, followed by sophomore Bailey Helzer's 159 kills.

Red Wolves setter Erin Madigan ranks seventh in the Sun Belt with 8.63 assists per set in conference play.

Libero Sarah Martinez ranks seventh in conference play with 4.25 digs per set. Martinez has recorded 20 or more digs in six matches this season.

Series History

Arkansas State leads the all-time series 7-3, dating back to 1982. However, Southern Miss won both of its contests against the Red Wolves last season, when the Golden Eagles bested Arkansas State 3-1 and 3-0 in the Wellness Center.

Southern Miss has only played the Red Wolves in Jonesboro once, losing the contest on Sept. 30, 1988.

Volleyball Travels to Arkansas State For Pair of Conference Matches

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Megan Harris

Ella Voorhees

Mia Wesley

University of Southern Mississippi Athletics

Volleyball Travels to Arkansas State For Pair of Conference Matches

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Megan Harris

Ella Voorhees

Mia Wesley

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