University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
9-2,0-0Sun Belt
Little Rock
6-5,0-0UAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | 16 | 18 | 25 | 25 | 12 | 2 |
| Southern Miss. | 25 | 25 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 3 |
Volleyball Fights Off Little Rock in Five-Set Victory
9/18/2026 8:43:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Southern Miss (9-2) came out of the gates hot on Friday evening, claiming the first two sets comfortably, but Little Rock (6-5) stormed back with dominant wins in sets three and four. The Golden Eagles weathered the storm in a decisive fifth set to win the match, 3-2 (25-16, 25-18, 15-25, 13-25, 15-12).
It was a struggle offensively for Southern Miss, as the Golden Eagles hit just .130 with a season-high 30 attack errors. Sadie McAda finished with 14 kills to lead the Golden Eagles, while Diana Wells added nine kills and Allie Hazelwood recorded a career-high six kills to go along with her 33 assists. Despite the offensive struggles, the Golden Eagles generated points from the service line, totaling 12 aces as a team. Kaylee Lowther accounted for five of those aces, setting a new career high.
Southern Miss opened the match with a strong start, overcoming an early 4-0 deficit to take control of the first set. Elly Stewart sparked the Golden Eagles' comeback with three consecutive service aces to even the score at 4-4, before kills from Wells and Maggie Sewell helped Southern Miss build a 12-10 advantage. Wells continued to provide an offensive spark with three straight kills during a 5-0 Southern Miss run that pushed the lead to 17-12. Lowther then added back-to-back service aces, and the Golden Eagles closed the set on a 4-0 run to take the opener, 25-16.
The Golden Eagles carried that momentum into the second set, with Lowther opening the frame with another pair of service aces. Little Rock answered to take an early lead, but Southern Miss remained within striking distance before McAda and Aubrey Judd helped the Golden Eagles pull ahead. With the score tied at 11-11, Southern Miss used a 4-0 run to take a 14-11 advantage. The Golden Eagles continued to control the set late, with Lowther adding her fifth ace and McAda recording three kills down the stretch. A McAda kill gave Southern Miss set point at 24-17 before another McAda kill closed the set, 25-18, giving the Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead.
Little Rock responded in the third set, jumping out to a 5-1 lead and extending its advantage to 9-2. Southern Miss battled to cut into the deficit, with McAda and Wells providing kills and Hazelwood adding a pair of points, but the Trojans continued to maintain control. Little Rock built a 20-11 advantage before closing the set on a 5-0 run to win 25-15 and force a fourth set.
The Trojans carried that momentum into the fourth, with the two teams trading points early before Little Rock took a 6-4 lead. Southern Miss hung around early, but a 7-0 Little Rock run turned an 8-8 tie into a 15-8 advantage. Little Rock kept its foot on the gas, as a 9-1 run broke the set wide open. Trailing 24-9, the Golden Eagles mounted a 4-0 run before a Trojan kill ended the set, 25-13, and forced a decisive fifth set.
Behind the momentum they had built at the end of the fourth, Southern Miss jumped ahead early in the fifth, with Stewart, McAda, and Lillie Johnson recording kills before Hazelwood's ace gave the Golden Eagles a 5-3 lead. Judd followed with a pair of kills to push the lead to 7-4. Sunni Sheppard delivered a service ace to give Southern Miss a 10-5 lead, followed by kills from McAda, Wells and Stewart to establish a 13-7 advantage. The Trojans battled back to pull within two at 14-12, but an attack error by Little Rock's Avery Fearnley gave the Golden Eagles the 15-12 fifth-set victory and closed out the hard-fought five-set match.
Southern Miss opens Sun Belt Conference play next week, traveling to Ruston, Louisiana, to face Louisiana Tech on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25-26.
To keep up with the Golden Eagles, follow our Instagram (@southernmissvball), X (@southernmissvb), and Facebook (Southern Miss Volleyball).
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