Southern Miss volleyball outlasts Little Rock in five-set match

Southern Miss overcame Little Rock in a five-set match played in Memphis, Tennessee, winning 3-2 by set scores of 25-16, 25-18, 15-25, 13-25 and 15-12. The Golden Eagles improved to 9-2, while Little Rock fell to 6-5.

Southern Miss overcame an early 4-0 deficit in the opening set and took control after Elly Stewart served three consecutive aces to tie the score. Kills by Diana Wells and Maggie Sewell helped build a 12-10 lead, and a 5-0 run extended the advantage to 17-12. Southern Miss closed the set with a 4-0 run.

The Golden Eagles also won the second set, using a 4-0 run after an 11-11 tie to move ahead 14-11. Sadie McAda recorded three kills late in the set, including the point that closed the 25-18 victory and gave Southern Miss a 2-0 lead.

Little Rock responded by winning the third and fourth sets. The Trojans opened the third with a 5-1 lead and finished it on a 5-0 run for a 25-15 win. In the fourth, a 7-0 run turned an 8-8 tie into a 15-8 advantage before Little Rock won 25-13 to force the deciding set.

Southern Miss built a 13-7 lead in the fifth set, but Little Rock rallied to pull within two points at 14-12. An attack error by Little Rock's Avery Fearnley gave the Golden Eagles the 15-12 set victory.

McAda led Southern Miss with 14 kills, while Wells had nine. Allie Hazelwood recorded a career-high six kills and added 33 assists. Southern Miss had 12 aces, including five by Kaylee Lowther, who set a career high. The Golden Eagles hit .130 and committed 30 attack errors.

Southern Miss will begin Sun Belt Conference play next week at Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana, on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25-26.

Source: Southern Miss Athletics.