University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Thursday, November 13
Southern Miss Wellness Center
6 p.m.
Southern Miss
vs
Marshall
Volleyball Hosts Marshall to Close Regular Season
11/12/2025 5:12:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss volleyball closes out their regular season road matches against Thursday and Friday night at 6 p.m. Thursday's match will be Santa's Workshop at the Wellness Center, in which fans who bring an unwrapped, unopened toy will get free admission to the match. Friday's match is Senior Night to honor Brynn Botkin, the team's only senior.
The Golden Eagles (14-11, 6-8 SBC) hosts The Herd (15-12, 7-7 SBC) after falling in a pair of five-set matches to Troy over the weekend. Libero Sunni Sheppard shattered the school record for the highest digs in a match during the rally-scoring era, earning 39 digs in the second match against Troy. Botkin and Sadie McAda both notched 26 kills over the weekend, while Elly Stewart led the front row with a .244 hitting percentage. Morgen Durgens earned 61 assists, while Sheppard added her record-breaking numbers from Friday's match to total 63 digs.
Nationally, Southern Miss ranks seventh in the nation and leads the Sun Belt with 17.36 digs per set. Following Sheppard's performance in the back row over the weekend, she lands in 41st in the nation with 4.59 digs per set. Botkin ranks 26th in the nation this week in aces per set with 0.47. In the Sun Belt, the team is first in the Sun Belt with 17.38 digs per set and second in the conference in aces per set with 1.76.
For the 2025 season, McAda leads Southern Miss with 334 total kills, while Durgens has 519 assists and Botkin has 41 service aces. Defensively, Sheppard has earned 404 digs while freshman Stewart has earned 65.0 blocks.
For the 2025 season, McAda leads Southern Miss with 334 total kills, while Durgens has 519 assists and Botkin has 41 service aces. Defensively, Sheppard has earned 404 digs while freshman Stewart has earned 65.0 blocks.
The Herd lands in Hattiesburg after a 1-1 split against App State in Huntington last weekend. They are led by head coach Heather Stout, who is in her second season with The Herd.
To keep up with the Golden Eagles, follow our Instagram (@southernmissvball), X (@southernmissvb), and Facebook (Southern Miss Volleyball).
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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