Southern Miss’ beach volleyball started its season by splitting its four games this weekend.
The Golden Eagles started the season in Houston, competing in the Third Coast Challenge. After four games, the team sits at an even 2-2 to start their season.
The Golden Eagles took to the sand first against Saint Mary’s. The teams would play five sets of best-of-three-games, with two players from each team playing each set. Southern Miss took the first point of the game after Zuzanna Michalska and Abby Lewis won their set in three close games. Saint Mary’s Gael’s got their first point of the match in another three-game set battle with Southern Miss’s Lustina Corcoz and Margarita Grigoreva. Saint Mary’s took the next set and clinched the 3-2 victory for the Gael’s with a quick two-game set versus Jaden White and Kitija Martini Adamsone.
Southern Miss took it back to the sand that afternoon versus Tarleton State. The Tarleton State Texans took the first set in commanding fashion with a quick 2-0 set victory to give them the first points of the match. From then on, the Golden Eagles dominated, winning the four remaining sets in quick two-game fashion. Lillie Johnson and Y-Nhu Do clinched the game for the Golden Eagles with their 21-18 victory in their second game of the set. Kitija Martini Adamsone and Jaden White added on one final point as they completed their set, and the Golden Eagles got their first victory with a final score of 4-1.
The next day, Southern Miss was back at noon versus California Polytechnic State University. The Cal Poly Mustangs dominated the match from the start, winning all five of the sets versus Southern Miss. The Golden Eagle loss was sealed by a 21-4 loss in the third set’s second game.
That afternoon, the Golden Eagles got back in the win column in a close battle versus Houston Christian. Grigoreva and Corcoz got the first point of the match for Southern Miss after a quick two-game set, but Houston Christian responded with a three-game set victory to tie the score. White and Martini Adamsone took the lead back after two close games in their set. Sadie McAda and Laurel Dennis secured the third point of the match for Southern Miss, winning the team’s second game of the season.
The Golden Eagles travel to Baton Rouge this coming weekend for the Tiger Beach Challenge.
