Volleyball Battles South Alabama in Three-Set Loss

Saturday, October 18

Mobile, Ala. / Jaguar Gym

1 p.m.

Southern Miss

13-6,5-3Sun Belt

South Alabama

12-7,7-1Sun Belt

Southern Miss.

South Alabama

Volleyball Battles South Alabama in Three-Set Loss

10/18/2025 4:08:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

MOBILE, Ala. – Southern Miss fell in a hard-fought three-set match (32-30, 25-22, 25-23) to South Alabama on Saturday afternoon inside Jaguar Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles hit .225 as a team, but the Jaguars used late runs in each frame to complete the sweep. Southern Miss now stands at 13-6 overall and 5-3 in Sun Belt play.

The opening set was a back-and-forth battle featuring 15 ties and six lead changes. Southern Miss built a 24-21 advantage behind kills from Sadie McAda and Aubrey Judd, but South Alabama fought off multiple set points. The Golden Eagles continued to trade blows with kills from Brynn Botkin and Elly Stewart, but the Jaguars pulled away late to edge out a 32-30 win.

Southern Miss maintained its offensive rhythm in the second set, hitting .244 as McAda and Emily Davis paced the attack. Judd's kill gave the Golden Eagles a 19-18 lead before South Alabama responded with a short 4-0 run. McAda answered with a late kill to close the gap, but the Jaguars held on to take the frame, 25-22.

Determined to extend the match, Southern Miss jumped ahead 12-9 early behind consecutive kills from Johnson and Botkin. Zovko and Morgen Durgens spread the offense effectively, keeping the Jaguars off balance. However, South Alabama rallied again in the final points, closing on a 6-2 stretch to secure the 25-23 win.

McAda led the Golden Eagles with 10 kills, nine digs, and one ace, while Judd and Botkin each added nine kills. Stewart hit .263 with five kills and a team-high four block assists, and Davis contributed six kills and two block assists. Zovko tallied 23 assists, four digs, and two aces, while Durgens added 12 assists.

Sunni Sheppard anchored the back row with 12 digs and two aces as the Golden Eagles finished with 45 kills, 41 assists, four aces, and 10 total blocks.

Southern Miss returns to action next week with a road trip to Norfolk, Va., to face Old Dominion on Oct. 23 and 24.

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