University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
8-2,0-0Sun Belt
Memphis
4-6,0-0American
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Miss. | 19 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| Memphis | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Southern Miss Falls to Memphis in Straight Sets
9/17/2026 8:53:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Southern Miss (8-2) battled Memphis (4-6) throughout the final two sets Thursday night at Elma Roane Fieldhouse, but the Golden Eagles fell to the Tigers, 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-21).
Once again Sadie McAda led the Southern Miss offense with her match-high 17 kills, while Sunni Sheppard anchored the Golden Eagles defensively with 13 digs. Diana Wells added eight kills, while Elly Stewart finished with five kills and two service aces. Allie Hazelwood totaled 34 assists and five digs in the match.
The Golden Eagles opened the match with an early 1-0 advantage after Aubrey Judd put away a kill from Hazelwood, but Memphis used a 5-0 run to take a 5-1 lead. Southern Miss responded with kills from McAda and Stewart before putting together a 4-0 run to cut the deficit to 10-9. The Tigers answered with another run to regain control of the set. Southern Miss continued to battle late, with Stewart and McAda each recording kills to bring the Golden Eagles back within five points off the lead, but Memphis closed the set, 25-19.
Southern Miss came out strong in the second set, with McAda opening the scoring with a kill. After the teams traded points early, Emily Davis provided a spark off the bench with the first service ace of her career to give the Golden Eagles a 6-4 lead. The two teams continued to trade points, with McAda adding kills and Hazelwood contributing a service ace as Southern Miss remained within striking distance. Memphis eventually built a 16-13 advantage, but a Kaylee Lowther ace helped the Golden Eagles respond with a 4-0 run to take a 17-16 lead. Memphis answered immediately, however, and reclaimed the lead at 19-18. McAda continued to keep Southern Miss in the set with another kill to make it 19-19 and added another point later in the set to cut the deficit to 21-20. Wells then delivered a kill to bring the Golden Eagles within one at 22-21, but Memphis scored the final three points to take the set, 25-21.
Memphis jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the third, but Southern Miss quickly fought its way back. A block from McAda and Maggie Sewell helped the Golden Eagles pull even at 5-5. Southern Miss continued to chip away, with Stewart recording a kill and Lowther following with a service ace to bring the Golden Eagles within one at 12-11. With the score tied at 13-13, Stewart delivered back-to-back service aces to give Southern Miss a 14-13 lead. The Golden Eagles continued to battle through another stretch of ties, eventually pulling even at 20-20 after a Stewart kill. Wells added a kill to tie the set again at 21-21, but Memphis responded with four straight points to close the match. The Tigers took the third set, 25-21, securing the 3-0 victory.
Southern Miss returns to action Friday at the Rumble at the Roan, facing Little Rock at 4 p.m. CT in Memphis.
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