Thursday, September 21
Mobile, Ala. / Jaguar Gym
6 p.m.
Southern Miss
0
at
3
South Alabama
Southern Miss Drops Sun Belt Conference Opener to South Alabama
9/21/2023 9:35:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MOBILE, Ala.-Southern Miss (5-7, 0-1 Sun Belt) fell to South Alabama (10-3, 1-0 Sun Belt) in straight sets (16-25, 24-26, 24-26) Thursday night in the Jaguar Gym to start Sun Belt conference play this season.
After falling by nine points to start the game, the Golden Eagles rebounded and forced extra play in the following sets. Despite Southern Miss' efforts, South Alabama pulled away with 26-24 victories in the second and third sets to win the sixth of its seven home games this season.
While the team chipped away at an early 10-4 deficit, Southern Miss could not overcome its slow start as South Alabama powered ahead on a 7-1 run. The Jaguars hit a game-high .310 percentage to take set one 26-15.
Southern Miss found momentum off of an early run and got active up front with a pair of key blocks to challenge the Jaguars in the second set. Atkinson led the charge later with three kills and a solo block to give Southern Miss a 19-15 lead.
South Alabama responded with a run of its own, but the Golden Eagles extended the set with a kill from Reagan Leinen and another block by Atkinson and Izzy Kronenberg to tie the game 24-24. However, the Jaguars scored consecutive points to complete its comeback in the set.
Southern Miss looked to flip the script in the third set, which was the most contested of the match with 15 ties and eight lead changes. The teams exchanged points, but Cailin Demps and Megan Harris gave Southern Miss a 24-22 lead to threaten another set. South Alabama again evaded the Golden Eagles' comeback efforts, as they closed the game on a 4-0 run.
Mia Wesley led the team with 10 kills and 18 digs for her fifth double double of the season. Atkinson and Leinen also recorded nine kills, and Demps paced the team with a .417 hitting percentage for six kills.
Freshman setter Franky Panunzio tallied 18 assists in her first career start, followed by Hayden Riddle's 14 assists. Defensively, Harris posted a season-high 19 digs.
Up Next
Southern Miss will face South Alabama again tomorrow in the Jaguar Gym in Mobile, Ala. at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
After falling by nine points to start the game, the Golden Eagles rebounded and forced extra play in the following sets. Despite Southern Miss' efforts, South Alabama pulled away with 26-24 victories in the second and third sets to win the sixth of its seven home games this season.
While the team chipped away at an early 10-4 deficit, Southern Miss could not overcome its slow start as South Alabama powered ahead on a 7-1 run. The Jaguars hit a game-high .310 percentage to take set one 26-15.
Southern Miss found momentum off of an early run and got active up front with a pair of key blocks to challenge the Jaguars in the second set. Atkinson led the charge later with three kills and a solo block to give Southern Miss a 19-15 lead.
South Alabama responded with a run of its own, but the Golden Eagles extended the set with a kill from Reagan Leinen and another block by Atkinson and Izzy Kronenberg to tie the game 24-24. However, the Jaguars scored consecutive points to complete its comeback in the set.
Southern Miss looked to flip the script in the third set, which was the most contested of the match with 15 ties and eight lead changes. The teams exchanged points, but Cailin Demps and Megan Harris gave Southern Miss a 24-22 lead to threaten another set. South Alabama again evaded the Golden Eagles' comeback efforts, as they closed the game on a 4-0 run.
Mia Wesley led the team with 10 kills and 18 digs for her fifth double double of the season. Atkinson and Leinen also recorded nine kills, and Demps paced the team with a .417 hitting percentage for six kills.
Freshman setter Franky Panunzio tallied 18 assists in her first career start, followed by Hayden Riddle's 14 assists. Defensively, Harris posted a season-high 19 digs.
Up Next
Southern Miss will face South Alabama again tomorrow in the Jaguar Gym in Mobile, Ala. at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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