Friday, September 19
Southern Miss Wellness Center
6 p.m.
Southern Miss
6-3,0-0Sun Belt
3
vs
0
Grambling State
0-8,0-0SWAC
1
2
3
F
Grambling
14
22
15
0
Southern Miss.
25
25
25
3
Volleyball Sweeps Grambling in Golden Eagle Classic
9/19/2025 8:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss improved to 6-3 with a sweep over Grambling on Friday night, earning set scores of 25-14, 25-22, 25-15 in the Golden Eagle Invitational at the Wellness Center. The Golden Eagles hit .374 as a team with 40 kills and 10 service aces, while holding Grambling to a .143 hitting percentage and just 31 kills on the night.
The first set saw Southern Miss take control early with four service aces and 13 kills. Back-to-back swings from Sadie McAda and Brynn Botkin helped extend the lead to 18-12, and the Golden Eagles closed the frame on a 7-2 run to win 25-14.
Set two was the closest of the match, featuring seven ties and three lead changes. The Golden Eagles broke away from a 14-14 tie with a 4-1 spurt that included a kill from Botkin and an ace from McAda. Grambling cut the deficit to one late, but a McAda kill and a Grambling error sealed the 25-22 win.
Southern Miss dominated the third set, forcing 10 Grambling errors while recording 13 kills of its own. Lindsey Smith provided a spark with four kills on five swings in the frame, while Sunni Sheppard led the defense with five digs. The Golden Eagles closed with a 6-2 run to take it 25-15 and secure the sweep.
McAda led the Golden Eagles with eight kills, while Botkin added seven and Smith finished with six kills on a .667 hitting percentage. Sheppard anchored the back row with a match-high 14 digs, and setter Gaby Zovko directed the offense with 27 assists and six digs. Southern Miss out-dug Grambling 47-31 and out-aced them 10-4.
The Golden Eagles continue the Golden Eagle Invitational on Saturday, facing Northwestern State at 12 p.m. and Jackson State at 5:30 p.m. inside the Wellness Center.
To keep up with the Golden Eagles, follow our Instagram (@southernmissvball), X (@southernmissvb), and Facebook (Southern Miss Volleyball).
Team Stats
GSU
USM
Kills
31
40
Errors
17
6
Attempts
98
91
Hitting %
.143
.374
Points
40.0
57.0
Assists
26
32
Aces
7
10
Blocks
2
7
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
8
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
3
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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