University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
Arkansas State
10/21/2026 1:58:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss (14-5, 5-3 Sun Belt) will host Arkansas State (11-8, 7-1 Sun Belt) for a two-match conference series at the Southern Miss Wellness Center. The first match will take place at 6 p.m. CT Thursday, Oct. 22, with the second following at 6 p.m. CT Friday, Oct. 23.
Match Details
Thursday, Oct. 22 – 6 p.m. CT & Friday, Oct. 23 – 6 p.m. CT
Southern Miss Wellness Center – Hattiesburg, Miss.
Stream on ESPN+ – smttt.info/espnVB
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast – smttt.info/USM-SB
Last Time Out
Southern Miss is coming off a series sweep at ULM, opening with a 3-0 win Thursday before rallying for a 3-1 victory Friday. The Golden Eagles hit .368 in the opener, their best mark in Sun Belt play this season, then held the Warhawks to a .098 hitting percentage in the rematch. This was the fourth time this season that the Southern Miss defense has held an opponent to a sub-.100 attack percentage, and the first time in conference play. The back end of the defense has been elite all season long: the Golden Eagles currently rank first in the SBC and ninth nationally in digs per set (16.77) and hold opponents to the lowest hitting percentage in the league, at .172. The offense has benefited immensely from the defense, as the squad averages the most attacks per set in the conference and the 10th most in the country, with a 37.59 mark, leading to 13.64 kills per set, the third-most in the SBC.
Sadie McAda led Southern Miss against ULM with 13 kills and 14 digs Thursday, then matched her season high with 22 kills and added 13 digs Friday, extending her double-double streak to six matches and bringing her season total to 14. The fourth year outside hitter's offensive production has been tremendous all season long, as her 4.22 kills per set mark ranks second in the Sun Belt. Allie Hazelwood was recently tabbed for her fourth SBC Setter of the Week award and her second in as many weeks. She's coming off a week in which she totaled 86 assists across the series, including 42 in Thursday's sweep and 44 with 15 digs Friday. Hazelwood has moved up to seventh in the country in assists per set, with a 10.87 average. Libero Sunni Sheppard has led the top-notch Golden Eagles defense all season long and continued last week, recording 20 digs in the opener and 19 in the finale, while Kaylee Lowther added 15 digs in Friday's win. Sheppard's 39 digs led the league last week, and she moved up to fourth in digs per set for the season, with 4.52.
Opponent Scout
Arkansas State comes to Hattiesburg at 11-8 overall and 7-1 in Sun Belt play after sweeping Georgia Southern on the road last weekend. The Red Wolves won Friday's opener in five sets, then completed the sweep with a 3-0 victory Saturday, helping them achieve their best start to conference play since 2016.
Right-side hitter Addison Collum took home Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week honors, while setter Erin Madigan earned the Defensive Player of the Week award. Arkansas State is led on offense by outside hitter Kaitlin Whitlock, who averages 3.29 kills per set, while Mia Maloney anchors the back row with 4.36 digs per set. Madigan directs the offense, dishing out 7.54 assists per set, and Haley Glunz leads the Red Wolves at the net with 1.13 blocks per set.
The all-time series between Arkansas State and Southern Miss is as even as it gets. In 10 total meetings, each side owns five wins, and the last three series have resulted in splits. In their last meeting, the Red Wolves took down the Golden Eagles in straight sets during the quarterfinals of the 2025 Sun Belt Conference tournament.
To keep up with the Golden Eagles, follow our Instagram (@southernmissvball), X (@southernmissvb), and Facebook (Southern Miss Volleyball).
– #SMTTT –
