Saturday, October 11
Southern Miss Wellness Center
2 p.m.
Southern Miss
13-4,5-1Sun Belt
3
vs
1
Louisiana
10-6,2-4Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
F
Louisiana
20
20
25
18
1
Southern Miss.
25
25
22
25
3
Volleyball Defeats Louisiana
10/11/2025 6:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss extended its strong start in conference play with a 3-1 victory over Louisiana (25-20, 25-20, 22-25, 25-18) on Saturday afternoon at the Wellness Center. The Golden Eagles improved to 13-4 overall and 5-1 in Sun Belt action, hitting .220 as a team while holding the Ragin' Cajuns to a .134 mark.
Southern Miss opened with early momentum, using kills from Sadie McAda and Brynn Botkin to grab a 10-6 lead. Louisiana responded with a brief run, but a steady block from Aubrey Judd and Elly Stewart slowed the rally. McAda tallied three straight points midway through the set, and Gaby Zovko added an ace to push the lead to 21-16. The Golden Eagles closed the frame on a Stewart kill to win 25-20.
Southern Miss opened with early momentum, using kills from Sadie McAda and Brynn Botkin to grab a 10-6 lead. Louisiana responded with a brief run, but a steady block from Aubrey Judd and Elly Stewart slowed the rally. McAda tallied three straight points midway through the set, and Gaby Zovko added an ace to push the lead to 21-16. The Golden Eagles closed the frame on a Stewart kill to win 25-20.
The second set followed a similar rhythm, with both teams trading points through 14-14 before Southern Miss separated late. Judd and Stewart combined for back-to-back blocks to cap a 5-0 run that put the Golden Eagles ahead for good. Botkin and McAda each added kills down the stretch, and a Louisiana attack error sealed the 25-20 win to make it 2-0.
Louisiana battled back in the third, building a small lead behind an improved defensive presence. McAda and Lillie Johnson provided late sparks to cut the deficit to one, but the Golden Eagles couldn't complete the comeback, dropping the set 25-22.
Southern Miss regrouped quickly, delivering its best offensive set of the match with a .375 hitting percentage. McAda and Johnson each contributed multiple kills during an 8-3 run that gave the Golden Eagles control early. Botkin added a kill and an ace to extend the lead to 17-11, and Judd's front-row defense helped Southern Miss keep the advantage. McAda's 15th kill of the afternoon and a final block from Stewart and Zovko sealed the 25-18 win and the match.
McAda led the team with 15 kills, 22 digs, and four block assists for her fifth double-double of the season. Botkin added 11 kills, 14 digs, and one ace, while Johnson posted nine kills and a block. Stewart finished with eight kills and a team-high six block assists, and Judd added seven kills and five total blocks.
Zovko and Morgen Durgens split setting duties, recording 23 and 20 assists, respectively, while Zovko also tallied three service aces. Sunni Sheppard anchored the back row with 14 digs and five assists. As a team, the Golden Eagles recorded 56 kills, 48 assists, 73 digs, five aces, and 16 total blocks.
Southern Miss continues Sun Belt play on the road next week, traveling to Mobile, Ala., to face South Alabama on Oct. 17 and 18.
To keep up with the Golden Eagles, follow our Instagram (@southernmissvball), X (@southernmissvb), and Facebook (Southern Miss Volleyball).
Team Stats
LA
USM
Kills
51
56
Errors
29
21
Attempts
164
159
Hitting %
.134
.220
Points
64.0
75.0
Assists
51
48
Aces
5
5
Blocks
8
14
Game Leaders
Kills
15
Aces
1
Blocks
6
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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