Beach Volleyball Splits First Day of Sun Belt Mid-Season Seeding Tournament

FOLEY, Ala. – Southern Miss completed its first day at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex with a win over (RV) UNCW and a loss to No. 18 Georgia State. The Golden Eagles improved to 9-13 on the year and are now 3-3 in Sun Belt play.

Southern Miss 3, (RV) UNCW 2
The Golden Eagles opened up match play in Foley against the 12-3 Seahawks. UNCW's record in Sun Belt play prior to taking on Southern Miss was a perfect 6-0, though the Golden Eagles soon spoiled their perfect ledger.

Southern Miss took two-set victories at three different sets to secure the upset over the receiving votes Seahawks. Madison Cassidy (Baton Rouge, La.) and Zuzanna Michalska (Warsaw, Poland) defeated UNCW's top flight 23-21 to take Southern Miss' first points and were joined by fourth pair Dylan Russell (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Y-Nhu Do (Cary, N.C.) and fifth pair Giovanna Gurgel Bahia (Recife, Brazil) and Jessie Fairly (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.) on the plus-side.

Russel/Do moved to the fourth pair and won in straight sets as did Bahia/Fairly at the fives. Southern Miss' losses were by a combined eight points. Sadie McAda (Pleasanton, Texas) and Laurel Dennis (Gulfport, Miss.) fell in three sets after dropping a 15-12 third set decision. Wiio Meinheit (Wilmington, N.C.) and Carmen Sanchez Delgado (Malaga, Spain) fell in two sets but were within two and four points, respectively, in each set.

Jaden White (West Palm Beach, Fla.) and Lillie Johnson (Canyon Lake, Texas) also suited up at the exhibition but fell in two sets.

Box Score
1 – Madison Cassidy & Zuzanna Michalska (USM) def. Gabby LaPata & Sarah Thompson (UNCW) 21-18, 23-21
2 – Gracie Sistrunk & Lyvia Trimp (UNCW) def. Sadie McAda & Laurel Dennis (USM) 21-19, 19-21, 15-12
3 – Traci Schrock & Annika Thompson (UNCW) def. Wiio Meinheit & Carmen Delgado (USM) 21-19, 21-17
4 – Dylan Russell & Y-Nhu Do (USM) def. Hannah Forbes & Maddy Folks (UNCW) 21-16, 21-18
5 – Giovanna Bahia & Jessie Fairly (USM) def. Tamsie Black & Sophie Puhala (UNCW) 21-15, 21-9
Exh. – Alivia Hamel & Addie Marinack (UNCW) def. Jaden White & Lillie Johnson (USM) 21-19, 21-13

No. 18 Georgia State 5, Southern Miss 0
Southern Miss dropped its final match of the day to nationally ranked Georgia State. The Panthers improved to 4-0 in Sun Belt Conference action after taking a 3-2 decision over College of Charleston earlier today.

Box Score
1 – Destiny White & Savannah Ebarb (GSU) def. Madison Cassidy & Zuzanna Michalska (USM) 23-21, 21-15
2 – Aliisa Vuorinen & Ayla Johnson (GSU) def. Sadie McAda & Laurel Dennis (USM) 21-19, 21-19
3 – Danica Singleton & Michaela Jefferson (GSU) def. Wiio Meinheit & Carmen Delgado (USM) 21-16. 21-17
4 – Kaylie Drysdale & Ella Mozeleski (GSU) def. Dylan Russell & Y-Nhu Do (USM) 21-15, 21-14
5 – Kaebre Sullivan & Kealy Dirner (GSU) def. Giovanna Gurgel Bahia & Jessie Fairly (USM) 21-13, 21-16
Exh. – Caroline Zimovan & Amanda Chambers (GSU) def. Ryann Thomas & Kenzie Boyd (USM) 19-21, 21-10, 15-6

Up Next
Southern Miss looks to open tomorrow's action against Coastal Carolina at 9 a.m. However, the day's scheduled may be affected by weather in the area. Southern Miss closes its weekend in Foley against ULM with a scheduled start time of 2 p.m.

– #SMTTT –

Beach Volleyball Splits First Day of Sun Belt Mid-Season Seeding Tournament

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Players Mentioned

Kenzie Boyd

Madison Cassidy

Laurel Dennis

Y-Nhu Do

Giovanna Gurgel Bahia

Lillie Johnson

Sadie McAda

Wiio Meinheit

Zuzanna Michalska

Dylan Russell

Carmen Sanchez Delgado

Ryann Thomas

Jaden White