University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
6-1,0-0Sun Belt
Lamar
1-7,0-0Southland
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar University | 14 | 25 | 18 | 29 | 1 |
| Southern Miss. | 25 | 23 | 25 | 31 | 3 |
Golden Eagles Rally Late to Top Lamar in Four Sets
9/11/2026 10:10:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss (6-1) picked up its third consecutive victory Friday night, defeating Lamar (1-7) 3-1 (25-14, 23-25, 25-18, 31-29) at the Wellness Center as the Golden Eagles closed day two at the Southern Miss Invitational with a thrilling fourth-set finish. This marks the best record to start a season in the Jenny Hazelwood era, and best overall since the 6-1 start in 2017.
Southern Miss set a new season-high with 69 kills in tonight's affair while Allie Hazelwood led the Golden Eagles with a career-high 57 assists and 16 digs to record her second double-double of the season. Her 57 assists also marked a new single-match season high among all Sun Belt players. Sadie McAda added her fifth double-double of the season with 18 kills and a season-high 20 digs. Sunni Sheppard set a new career high as well with her four aces
Aubrey Judd contributed 14 kills, including two of the final three points of the match, while Elly Stewart added 13 kills, hit .522 and added four blocks. Diana Wells chipped in 12 kills and a career-high nine digs, while Lillie Johnson finished with nine kills.
Southern Miss jumped out to an early lead in the opening set, racing to a 6-0 advantage behind three kills from Johnson before a McAda ace forced Lamar to burn a timeout. The Golden Eagles continued to control the set, building a 15-8 lead before pulling away late. Stewart recorded three kills during a 5-0 Southern Miss run, and her fifth kill of the set closed out a 25-14 victory.
The Cardinals responded in the second set, taking an early 7-5 lead before extending its advantage to 11-7. Southern Miss battled back behind kills from McAda, Judd and Wells, eventually pulling within one at 19-18. The Golden Eagles continued to fight, with a Sheppard ace helping Southern Miss tie the set at 23-23, but Lamar answered with the final two points to even the match at 1-1.
The Golden Eagles regained control in the third set, using a 5-0 run to turn a 12-12 tie into a 17-12 advantage. Wells recorded three consecutive kills during the stretch, while Stewart and McAda added key plays to help Southern Miss maintain its lead. Stewart's fifth kill of the set gave the Golden Eagles set point at 24-17 before she closed out the frame with another kill, sending Southern Miss into the fourth set with a 2-1 lead.
The fourth set provided a back-and-forth battle from start to finish. Southern Miss held a 12-11 advantage before Lamar responded with four straight points to take a 15-12 lead. The Golden Eagles fought back, with Judd and Wells providing kills to help cut into the deficit before Stewart tied the set at 17-17.
The two teams traded points from there, with neither side able to pull away. McAda gave Southern Miss a 22-21 lead with a kill, but LU answered to tie the set at 22-22. Judd put the Golden Eagles back in front at 23-22, and Stewart followed with a kill to give Southern Miss match point at 24-23. The Cardinals fought off the first match point and eventually moved ahead 25-24, but the Golden Eagles answered when a Lamar attack error tied the set at 25-25. Lamar found another opportunity to close the set, ahead, 29-28. Judd then delivered when the Golden Eagles needed her most, recording a kill to tie the set at 29-29. With the match hanging in the balance, Sunni Sheppard stepped to the service line and delivered an ace to put Southern Miss ahead 30-29. On the ensuing point, Sheppard set up Judd, who put away the final kill of the night to give the Golden Eagles a 31-29 fourth-set victory and the 3-1 match win.
Southern Miss continues the Southern Miss Invitational Saturday at the Wellness Center. The Golden Eagles will face Southern and Jackson State as the tournament continues in Hattiesburg.
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