Box Score Hattiesburg, Miss. – Alabama State could not hold on and dropped a tough 3-2 (25-16, 17-25, 21-25, 25-21, 11-15) decision to Southern Miss in non-conference volleyball action on Wednesday night.
 
The Lady Hornets (4-16) came out hot taking the first set but the Golden Eagles (1-14) bounced back by grabbing the next two sets before Alabama State went on a 5-0 run to grab the fourth set.
 
In the fifth set, the Lady Hornets posted a steady 7-2 lead but Southern Miss fought hard to battle back to bring the score to 7-6. After a controversial call that ended up giving Alabama State a red card to tie the game at seven, the Golden Eagles tallied their eighth point to take the lead and never looked back.
 
Four Lady Hornets racked up double digit kills in seniors Krysta Medearis (18, game high) and Beyle' Bennett (11) and juniors Taira Cottingham (11) and E'laisah Young (11). Young led the way with a .458 hitting percentage followed by Medearis with a .390 percentage.
 
Bennett added a career-high 20 digs to record her team-leading ninth double double of the season. Freshman Emersen Belles and sophomore Morgan Freeman both recorded double digit digs with 18 and 11, respectively.
 
Freshman Madison Beasley nearly posted her fourth double double of the season with a team-high 27 assists and nine digs. Beasley also tied with Bennett for a team-high two service aces.
 
Set One (Alabama State 25, Southern Miss 16)
Alabama State controlled the momentum the entire set as the team hit a blistering .371 with 16 kills while holding Southern Miss to a .125 hitting percentage. Defensively, the Lady Hornets recorded 19 digs, nine of which coming from Bennett, along with a block. In addition to her nine digs, Bennett recorded a set-high five kills.
 
Set Two (Alabama State 17, Southern Miss 25)
The Lady Hornets stuck with the Golden Eagles early on but Southern Miss went on a 5-0 run to gain an 18-12 lead that it would not relinquish. Alabama State was unable to get into an offensive rhythm as it only tallied 11 kills in the set.
 
Set Three (Alabama State 21, Southern Miss 25)
Southern Miss controlled most of the momentum in the set, tallying 15 kills with a .238 hitting percentage. The match was close to begin the set until the Golden Eagles went on a 5-0 run to take a 13-8 lead that it would not let up. The Lady Hornets were held to just 11 kills but recorded three blocks.
 
Set Four (Alabama State 25, Southern Miss 21)
Despite hitting .114 in the set, Southern Miss led for majority of the way but the Lady Hornets fought hard to tie the score at 19. After a back-and-forth battle, the Lady Hornets trailed 21-20 and rattled off five straight points to take the set. Alabama State hit .258 in the set with three service aces, two of which coming from Bennett.
 
Set Five (Alabama State 15, Southern Miss 11)
Alabama State began the fifth set hot with a 3-0 run to begin the set that eventually turned into a 7-2 lead. Southern Miss went on a small run and then after a couple of controversial calls, the Golden Eagles took an 8-7 lead at the switch that gave them enough momentum to win the set.
 
Up Next
Alabama State will come back home on Sunday when it welcomes conference foe Alcorn State at 5 p.m.
 
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