Volleyball Drops Heartbreaker to Troy

Saturday, September 30

Troy, Ala. / Trojan Arena

2 p.m.

Southern Miss

5-10,0-4Sun Belt

Troy

6-8,4-0Sun Belt

Southern Miss.

Troy

Volleyball Drops Heartbreaker to Troy

9/30/2023 5:59:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

TROY, Ala.-Southern Miss (5-10, 0-4 Sun Belt) slumped to a five-game losing streak after suffering a five-set loss (25-21, 23-25, 25-18, 25-27, 12-15) to Troy (6-8, 4-0 Sun Belt) in the Trojan Arena Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Eagles rebounded from its 3-0 loss Friday in which they hit at a .056 clip, improving to .249 in the second game. Southern Miss took a 2-1 advantage, but Troy completed a two-set comeback to win both games of the series.

Mia Wesley and Cara Atkinson got going again offensively for the Golden Eagles, combining for 33 kills. Wesley led the duo with 19 kills and a season-high 20 digs, while Atkinson recorded a season-high 14 kills, six digs, and tied her career-high of seven blocks.

Ella Voorhees led the offense's revival in her first career start at setter, recording a double-double with career-highs of 45 assists and 12 digs.

Defensively, the Golden Eagles clicked with a season-high of 18 blocks, including Reagan Leinen's 11 block assists, which tied the all-time program high. Libero Megan Harris also registered a season-high 27 digs in the match.

Despite an overall team effort, the Trojans completed its comeback by capturing the last two sets, led by Tori Hester's career and program-best 36 kills on a program-high of 94 attempts and 20 digs. Amiah Butler also added 22 kills to help Troy push past the Golden Eagles in the fifth set, recording the last four kills for the Trojans in the fifth set on a 3-0 run to end the game.

Troy continued its momentum from Friday early into the second game, taking a five-point lead in the first set at 19-14. However, Southern Miss fought back from the deficit on a 4-0 run, and took the lead after two kills from Wesley. The Golden Eagles held Troy at 21 on the way to another run, capped by a kill from Ari Barksdale to complete the comeback at 25-21.

Troy again jumped to a lead in the second set, which Southern Miss fought to claim, tying the set ten times and eventually taking an advantage at 21-19. This time, the Trojans eked out a 25-23 victory to tie the game.

Southern Miss got the early start in the third set, cruising ahead with an 8-2 lead, and eventually extending to a ten-point lead at 20-10. Barksdale and Sadie McAda closed the set out at 25-18 with a block, pushing the Golden Eagles back ahead.

The Golden Eagles threatened to close out the game by advancing on a 4-0 run, but Troy scraped back, battling back-and-forth. With the game tied at 25-25, the Trojans forced a deciding set with two straight points by Hester and Jaci Mesa.

The game was up for grabs in the fifth set, as both teams exchanged points fighting for a way to win. While Troy took a 6-3 lead, Southern Miss tied the set at 8-8 thanks to a pair of kills from McAda and Atkinson. The Golden Eagles went up by two, but fell behind as Butler lifted the Trojans to its fifth straight victory.

Southern Miss has lost all three of its games that have come down to a deciding set this season.

Up Next

Southern Miss looks to get back in the win column as they return to Hattiesburg for a pair of matches versus ULM this Thursday and Friday. The Golden Eagles enjoy a six-game winning streak at home, dating back to last season.