University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
11-2,2-0Sun Belt
Louisiana Tech
7-9,0-2Sun Belt
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Miss. | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Louisiana Tech | 16 | 25 | 16 | 21 | 1 |
Sadie McAda Shines as the Golden Eagles Defeat LA Tech
9/26/2026 5:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Ruston, La. – Southern Miss (11-2, 2-0 SBC) completed a weekend sweep of Louisiana Tech (7-9, 0-2 SBC) Saturday afternoon, earning a 3-1 (25-16, 23-25, 25-16, 25-21) victory at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Southern Miss hit .225 as a team and totaled 57 kills, while Louisiana Tech finished with 40 kills and a .147 hitting percentage. The Golden Eagles also held advantages in assists, 56-38, and digs, 61-59, while recording six team blocks and nine service aces.
A day after reaching 1,000 career kills, Sadie McAda paced the Golden Eagles once again with a season-high 22 kills and 24.5 points, hitting .315 on 54 attacks. Aubrey Judd matched her career high with 14 kills while hitting .379, and Elly Stewart added 12 kills at a .320 clip. Lillie Johnson chipped in four kills, and Emily Davis recorded three. Allie Hazelwood ran the offense efficiently with 46 assists and came up big defensively, tallying 14 digs for her third double-double of the season. Sunni Sheppard notched 15 digs and six assists, while Kaylee Lowther tied her career high with five service aces, to extend her team-leading season total to 23 (third most in SBC). Freshman Reese Warren also got in on the fun, recording the first kill of her career.
Southern Miss took control early in the opening set, overcoming an early 4-1 deficit before using an 8-0 run to take an 11-19 advantage. McAda fired off three kills during the run that helped fuel the offensive push, while Lowther later delivered a pair of service aces as the Golden Eagles stretched their lead. Southern Miss closed the set on a 4-0 run, taking the opening frame 25-16.
Louisiana Tech responded in the second set, building a 14-6 advantage before Southern Miss began to chip away at the deficit. The Golden Eagles eventually stole the lead late in the set at 21-20 after consecutive kills from Johnson, but the Bulldogs regained the lead late. Louisiana Tech reached set point at 24-22 before a service error gave Southern Miss another opportunity, but the Bulldogs closed the set, 25-23, to even the match.
The Golden Eagles answered emphatically in the third set. Lowther opened the frame with back-to-back aces, and Southern Miss maintained its advantage throughout the set. McAda added an ace during a 4-0 stretch that pushed the Golden Eagles ahead 15-13, while Judd and Stewart continued to provide offensive production. Southern Miss closed the set with consecutive kills from McAda and Stewart to win 25-16 and regain the match lead.
The fourth set featured a back-and-forth start before Southern Miss pulled ahead late. The Golden Eagles tied the set at 14-14 and then took a 17-15 lead following a block from Judd and Johnson. Stewart and McAda combined for four kills during a key stretch as Southern Miss extended its advantage to 21-18. McAda then recorded another kill to make it 24-21 before a Louisiana Tech attack error sealed the 25-21 victory and the weekend sweep.
Up next:
The Golden Eagles return home next weekend to host their first conference matches of 2026 at the Southern Miss Wellness Center, against Troy on Oct. 2-3.
To keep up with the Golden Eagles, follow our Instagram (@southernmissvball), X (@southernmissvb), and Facebook (Southern Miss Volleyball).
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