Thursday, October 3
Southern Miss Wellness Center
6 p.m.
Southern Miss
6-9,2-1Sun Belt
2
vs
3
Arkansas State
13-2,3-0Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
5
F
Arkansas St.
24
25
21
25
15
3
Southern Miss.
26
22
25
12
13
2
Sheppard Has Career-High Night in Five-Set Loss to Arkansas State
10/3/2024 10:39:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Libero Sunni Sheppard has a career-high of 36 digs in a five-set loss to Arkansas State Friday night. Despite the loss, she averaged 7.2 digs per set against the Red Wolves while anchoring the Golden Eagle Defense.
Set one starts with Sadie McAda earning two kills from setter Francesca Panunzio to make the score 2-1. The Red Wolves started strong, posting a 6-1 run in response. Kills from Torrey Tkach and McAda, paired with a service ace from Kaylee Lowther and blocks by Panunzio and Tkach, push the Golden Eagles to a 14-13 lead. While Arkansas State respond with a four-point run, the Golden Eagles quickly apply pressure, capitalizing on errors form the Red Wolves with Sheppard's digs holding them back to tie the score. While the Red Wolves try to fight back, Izzy Kronenberg scored three consecutive kills to shut the set 26-24.
Set two begins with Kronenberg still on a hot streak, adding another kill and a block with Tkach to make the set 3-1. Aysu Dalogullari adds her handful of kills with McAda to hold Arkansas State, while Madison Baldridge adds a block with Panunzio and an unstoppable defensive presence from Sheppard. However, the Red Wolves refuse to give up, posting an 8-2 run, making the score 9-13. The Golden Eagles capitalize on an ace from McAda and opposing errors to make a six-point run. While both teams keep the fight close during the rest of the set, the Red Wolves pull away in the last moments, taking the set 25-22.
Set three opens with both teams trading points. The Golden Eagles gain momentum with back-to-back blocks involving Baldridge, Kronenberg, and Dalogullari to make the score 7-7. Kronenberg maintains her offensive presence, adding more kills throughout the match. While the score swapped back and forth, the teams were back and forth until 21-21. Using the momentum from an opposing hitting error, Tkach and Panunzio post a block paired with two aces from Lowther for the Golden Eagles to win set three 25-21.
The Red Wolves came back with a force in set four, taking advantage of Southern Miss errors early to jump ahead 10-5. The Golden Eagles tried to get their offense going with kills from Tkach, Kronenberg, and Dalogullari. However, Arkansas State capitalized on errors, extending their lead to 18-8. Despite a brief surge by Dalogullari and defensive hustle from Sheppard, Arkansas State continued their strong play, closing out the set 25-12 to force a decisive fifth set.
The final set was high energy and neck and neck between both teams. The final set began evenly, with Southern Miss gaining a slight edge after a block by Tkach and Panunzio, making it 3-2. Arkansas State fought back to tie the set at 5-5 after a kill. The teams traded points until Arkansas State took an 11-9 lead. Southern Miss responded with kills from McAda and Dalogullari, tying it at 11-11. A service error by Southern Miss gave Arkansas State a 14-12 lead. Despite a kill from Kronenberg, Arkansas State secured the final point, winning 15-13 and the match 3-2.
Sheppard hit her career-high 36 digs in the match. Torrey Tkach led with 8 total blocks, while Dalogullari led the team with 16 kills. Panunzio finished the match with 34 assists while earning her 800th career assist. Kronenberg had the highest hitting percentage, finishing with 13 kills and a .257 hitting percentage. Lowther led the Golden Eagles with three service aces.
The Golden Eagles will play Arkansas State to close out the matchup tomorrow, October 4th, in a 6 p.m. match at Camp Night. Any camper from Southern Miss Volleyball camps who wears their camp shirt will be granted free admission to tomorrow's match.
Follow @SouthernMissVB on Twitter (X), Instagram, and Facebook to keep up with your Golden Eagles.
Set one starts with Sadie McAda earning two kills from setter Francesca Panunzio to make the score 2-1. The Red Wolves started strong, posting a 6-1 run in response. Kills from Torrey Tkach and McAda, paired with a service ace from Kaylee Lowther and blocks by Panunzio and Tkach, push the Golden Eagles to a 14-13 lead. While Arkansas State respond with a four-point run, the Golden Eagles quickly apply pressure, capitalizing on errors form the Red Wolves with Sheppard's digs holding them back to tie the score. While the Red Wolves try to fight back, Izzy Kronenberg scored three consecutive kills to shut the set 26-24.
Set two begins with Kronenberg still on a hot streak, adding another kill and a block with Tkach to make the set 3-1. Aysu Dalogullari adds her handful of kills with McAda to hold Arkansas State, while Madison Baldridge adds a block with Panunzio and an unstoppable defensive presence from Sheppard. However, the Red Wolves refuse to give up, posting an 8-2 run, making the score 9-13. The Golden Eagles capitalize on an ace from McAda and opposing errors to make a six-point run. While both teams keep the fight close during the rest of the set, the Red Wolves pull away in the last moments, taking the set 25-22.
Set three opens with both teams trading points. The Golden Eagles gain momentum with back-to-back blocks involving Baldridge, Kronenberg, and Dalogullari to make the score 7-7. Kronenberg maintains her offensive presence, adding more kills throughout the match. While the score swapped back and forth, the teams were back and forth until 21-21. Using the momentum from an opposing hitting error, Tkach and Panunzio post a block paired with two aces from Lowther for the Golden Eagles to win set three 25-21.
The Red Wolves came back with a force in set four, taking advantage of Southern Miss errors early to jump ahead 10-5. The Golden Eagles tried to get their offense going with kills from Tkach, Kronenberg, and Dalogullari. However, Arkansas State capitalized on errors, extending their lead to 18-8. Despite a brief surge by Dalogullari and defensive hustle from Sheppard, Arkansas State continued their strong play, closing out the set 25-12 to force a decisive fifth set.
The final set was high energy and neck and neck between both teams. The final set began evenly, with Southern Miss gaining a slight edge after a block by Tkach and Panunzio, making it 3-2. Arkansas State fought back to tie the set at 5-5 after a kill. The teams traded points until Arkansas State took an 11-9 lead. Southern Miss responded with kills from McAda and Dalogullari, tying it at 11-11. A service error by Southern Miss gave Arkansas State a 14-12 lead. Despite a kill from Kronenberg, Arkansas State secured the final point, winning 15-13 and the match 3-2.
Sheppard hit her career-high 36 digs in the match. Torrey Tkach led with 8 total blocks, while Dalogullari led the team with 16 kills. Panunzio finished the match with 34 assists while earning her 800th career assist. Kronenberg had the highest hitting percentage, finishing with 13 kills and a .257 hitting percentage. Lowther led the Golden Eagles with three service aces.
The Golden Eagles will play Arkansas State to close out the matchup tomorrow, October 4th, in a 6 p.m. match at Camp Night. Any camper from Southern Miss Volleyball camps who wears their camp shirt will be granted free admission to tomorrow's match.
Follow @SouthernMissVB on Twitter (X), Instagram, and Facebook to keep up with your Golden Eagles.
Team Stats
ASU
USM
Kills
58
50
Errors
32
33
Attempts
181
187
Hitting %
.144
.091
Points
78.0
73.0
Assists
54
47
Aces
3
6
Blocks
17
17
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
16
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
13
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
8
Players Mentioned
RS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's VolleyballMB
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