Volleyball Outlasts Arkansas State in Five-Set Thriller

Saturday, October 4

Jonesboro, Ark. / First National Bank Arena

Noon

Southern Miss

11-4,3-1Sun Belt

Arkansas State

9-6,2-2Sun Belt

Southern Miss.

Arkansas St.

Volleyball Outlasts Arkansas State in Five-Set Thriller

10/4/2025 3:43:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

JONESBORO, Ark. – Southern Miss volleyball (11-4, 3-1 Sun Belt) battled through a back-and-forth match to earn a five-set victory over Arkansas State, 20-25, 25-21, 25-18, 10-25, 15-11, on Saturday afternoon inside First National Bank Arena.

Arkansas State came out strong in the opening set, using a 5-0 run midway through to pull ahead 17-12. Southern Miss closed the gap to 21-19 behind kills from Sadie McAda and Brynn Botkin, but the Red Wolves held off the late push to take the frame 25-20.

The Golden Eagles responded in the second, holding Arkansas State to a .122 hitting percentage while finding their rhythm from the service line. A 6-2 closing run, highlighted by back-to-back McAda kills and an ace from Lillie Johnson, sealed a 25-21 win to even the match at one set apiece.

Southern Miss carried that momentum into the third, opening on a 7-1 run behind the serving of Gaby Zovko. McAda and Botkin combined for seven kills during the stretch, and Elly Stewart added two timely blocks to push the Golden Eagles ahead 2-1 in the match with a 25-18 victory.

Arkansas State bounced back in the fourth, taking control early with an 8-2 lead and maintaining that advantage throughout. The Red Wolves hit .429 in the frame and limited Southern Miss to 10 points to force a deciding fifth set.

In the final frame, Southern Miss jumped ahead 6-3 after a McAda ace and a Botkin kill forced an Arkansas State timeout. The Red Wolves narrowed the gap to 10-9, but the Golden Eagles stayed composed as McAda delivered consecutive kills and Stewart sealed the win with a final swing to close the set 15-11 and the match 3-2.

McAda led the Golden Eagles with 21 kills and 22 digs. Botkin followed with 20 digs and a team-high three aces, while Zovko directed the offense with 42 assists.

Southern Miss returns home next week to host Louisiana on Oct. 10 and 11 inside the Wellness Center in Hattiesburg.

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