Southern Miss
8-12,4-4Sun Belt
South Alabama
10-8,6-2Sun Belt
Volleyball Closes Weekend in Four-Set Loss to South Alabama
10/18/2024 9:11:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss volleyball closed out its series of matches this weekend with a four-set loss to South Alabama on Friday. Southern Miss falls to 8-12 (4-4 SBC), while South Alabama advances to 10-8 (6-2).
Set one started with South Alabama posting a 4-1 run. Kills from Sadie McAda and Izzy Kronenberg helped the Golden Eagles close the 6-3 gap. Both teams traded points back and forth, with Southern Miss scoring with kills from McAda, Francesca Panunzio, and Aysu Dalogullari to trail South Alabama by only two points at 10-8. As the teams continued to trade points, Lillie Johnson scored on her very first play, paired with a kill from McAda and Torrey Tkach, keeping the gap close at 17-14. Despite defensive plays from Sunni Sheppard, the Jaguars went on a 4-0 run to take the set, 25-17.
The second set began with the teams trading points to 2-2. The Jaguars went on a 5-2 run, making the score 7-4. Southern Miss responded with kills from Dalogullari and Tkach to tie the set at 10-10. The Golden Eagles continued to battle with kills from Madison Baldridge, paired with South Alabama errors, forcing the Jaguars to hold on to their lead at 21-17. Another kill by Baldridge closed the gap to 22-18, but South Alabama maintained its intensity and won the set, 25-21.
Southern Miss came into the third set with determination and grit, refusing to let the Jaguars take the match. The competition stayed close early on, with the Golden Eagles taking a 4-2 lead. South Alabama responded with a 4-1 run, taking the lead at 7-6. Kronenberg earned a kill to tie the score at 7-7. The Golden Eagles used their momentum, with Panunzio and Tkach connecting on kills, to fuel a 12-3 run, making the score 18-10, with aces from Sheppard and Panunzio. While the Jaguars tried to rally with kills of their own, the Golden Eagles cruised through the set, winning 25-14.
The Jaguars returned in set four with intensity, and both teams earned blocks early in the set. Southern Miss kept its momentum, posting a 3-0 run with a kill from McAda and a service ace by Dalogullari. South Alabama answered with a 3-1 run, tying the score at 7-7. The teams continued to battle, with Southern Miss taking a 10-9 lead after a kill by Panunzio and a Jaguars error. South Alabama, however, went on a 13-3 run to take a 22-13 lead. Despite kills from Kronenberg and Tkach, the Jaguars closed out the set 25-14, winning the match 3-1.
McAda and Dalogullari both finished with 14 kills in the match. Panunzio tallied 36 assists, while Sheppard recorded 22 digs. Panunzio and Tkach each earned two blocks.
Southern Miss will face Old Dominion on Friday, Oct. 25, in a 6 p.m. match and Saturday, Oct. 26, at 12 p.m.
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