Volleyball Rallies for Reverse Sweep Against Arkansas State

Friday, October 4

Southern Miss Wellness Center

6 p.m.

Southern Miss

7-9,3-1Sun Belt

Arkansas State

13-3,3-1Sun Belt

Arkansas St.

Southern Miss.

Volleyball Rallies for Reverse Sweep Against Arkansas State

10/4/2024 11:25:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The energy inside the Wellness Center was electric as Southern Miss overcame a two-set deficit to defeat Arkansas State in a five-set thriller on Friday evening. Aysu Dalogullari led the Golden Eagles with a career-high 25 kills.

The match opened with both teams trading two- and three-point runs in the first set, with Arkansas State pushing to an 11-7 lead. Southern Miss responded with a four-point run, including kills by Dalogullari and Sadie McAda, and a block from Madison Baldridge and Izzy Kronenberg. Both teams continued to trade points until back-to-back kills by McAda and Dalogullari closed the gap to 18-16. However, the Red Wolves answered with a 7-1 run, taking a 23-19 lead. The crowd grew louder as McAda and Sunni Sheppard made multiple diving saves on defense. A block by Kronenberg and Baldridge held Arkansas State at set point for two rallies, but the Red Wolves ultimately secured the set, 25-22.

Arkansas State came out strong in set two, racing to a 9-2 lead. Southern Miss fought back with kills from Kronenberg and Brynn Botkin but still trailed 15-9. The Red Wolves extended their lead with a 6-1 run and closed out the set 25-14, despite late kills from McAda and Torrey Tkach.

Southern Miss regrouped in set three, determined to extend the match. Kills by Tkach and Dalogullari kept the Golden Eagles within striking distance, but Arkansas State took a 23-17 lead. Refusing to quit, Southern Miss mounted an 8-2 run, fueled by five kills from Dalogullari, to tie the set at 25-25. After trading points deep into extra play, the Golden Eagles pulled ahead with kills by Kronenberg, McAda, and Dalogullari, taking the set 31-29.

In set four, both teams continued to trade points in a tight contest. A block from Tkach and Panunzio tied the score at 3-3, and a kill by Panunzio pushed Southern Miss to a 7-5 lead. Arkansas State battled back to take a 13-12 advantage, but Southern Miss responded with a six-point run, including three kills by Dalogullari and blocks from Baldridge and Panunzio. The Golden Eagles capitalized on two Arkansas State errors to win the set 25-22 and force a decisive fifth set.

The intensity inside the Wellness Center remained high in the fifth set. Arkansas State jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Southern Miss tied it at 3-3 with a kill from McAda and two Red Wolves errors. Arkansas State regained a 6-3 lead before the Golden Eagles tied it again at 6-6 with kills from Baldridge and Dalogullari. The teams continued to trade points, and the set was tied 13-13. Southern Miss took advantage of an Arkansas State error, and a block by Tkach and McAda sealed the comeback, winning the set 15-13 and completing the reverse sweep.

Southern Miss advances to 7-9 overall (3-1 SBC) while Arkansas State drops to 13-3 (3-1 SBC).

Dalogullari finished with a career-high 25 kills and led the team with two service aces. Sheppard was a defensive force with 32 digs, while Panunzio tallied 40 assists. Tkach and Baldridge led the Golden Eagles with five blocks each.

Southern Miss heads to Lafayette, La., for two matches against Louisiana on Thursday, Oct. 10, and Friday, Oct. 11. Both matches are set for 6 p.m.

To keep up with the Golden Eagles, follow @SouthernMissVB on Twitter (X), Instagram, and Facebook.