Sunday, September 14
Southern Miss Wellness Center
1 p.m.
Southern Miss
5-3,0-0Sun Belt
1
vs
3
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Mississippi State
9-0,0-0SEC
1
2
3
4
F
Mississippi St.
25
25
23
25
3
Southern Miss.
22
19
25
22
1
Record Crowd Watches Volleyball Push Mississippi State to Four Sets
9/14/2025 5:21:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss volleyball (5-3) fell to Mississippi State (9-0) in four sets, 22-25, 19-25, 25-23, 22-25, on Sunday afternoon inside the Wellness Center. The energy was unmatched in the standing-room-only crowd of 923, which nearly doubled Friday's record of 502.
The first set swung back and forth with seven ties. After trailing 16-13, the Golden Eagles surged back with kills from Sadie McAda and Lillie Johnson, followed by a kill from Elly Stewart to tie it at 18. The Bulldogs responded with three straight points, however, and closed the frame 25-22.
In the second, Mississippi State jumped out quickly, but Southern Miss rallied midway behind a block from Stewart and a kill from Johnson to knot it at 11. A kill from McAda later cut the deficit to 18-17, but the Bulldogs answered with consecutive points and held on 25-19.
Southern Miss came alive in the third set, opening with back-to-back kills from McAda and Emily Davis before a service ace from Brynn Botkin capped the 4-0 run. The Bulldogs battled back to tie it at 17, but the Golden Eagles regained control as McAda and Johnson delivered consecutive kills for a 21-18 lead. After Mississippi State tied it again at 23, Stewart sealed the set with back-to-back kills, boosting momentum from the crowd with a 25-23 victory.
The fourth set mirrored the intensity of the day. McAda and Stewart powered consecutive kills to push the Golden Eagles ahead 13-10. The Bulldogs responded with a run of their own, but Southern Miss tied it at 21 after a McAda swing. Mississippi State then capitalized on errors and pulled out the set 25-22 to close the match.
McAda finished with a double-double of 17 kills and 16 digs, while Stewart hit .385 with 13 kills. Morgen Durgens dished out 36 assists and added 11 digs, and Sunni Sheppard anchored the back row with 10 digs. Botkin added eight kills, seven digs and two block assists.
Southern Miss will stay in Hattiesburg to host the Golden Eagle Invitational, featuring Grambling State, Northwestern State, and Jackson State on Friday, September 19th and 20th in the Wellness Center.
To keep up with the Golden Eagles, follow our Instagram (@southernmissvball), X (@southernmissvb), and Facebook (Southern Miss Volleyball).
Team Stats
MS
USM
Kills
60
52
Errors
28
24
Attempts
157
167
Hitting %
.204
.168
Points
75.0
66.0
Assists
56
48
Aces
5
5
Blocks
10
9
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's VolleyballMB
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