OXFORD, Miss. — The University of Central Arkansas volleyball team fell 3-0 to Southern Miss on Saturday, by set scores of 25-18, 25-17 and 35-33. Central Arkansas hit .250 with 20 kills in the third set, but the late push was not enough to stay alive in the match.
Central Arkansas matched Southern Miss early in the first set, with
McKinzee Haas and
Sarah Carnathan teaming up on one block and
Sophie Skinner and
Greyson Button on another to tie the score at 6 apiece. The Golden Eagles created separation later, with three straight Allie Hazelwood service aces to put Southern Miss ahead 16-8.
Nicole Sargent posted three kills in the set as the Sugar Bears kept answering, but Southern Miss took the opening set 25-18.
Central Arkansas could not hold the momentum following a 4-0 opening service run through the second set, as Southern Miss came back and took the set 25-17.
Olivia Kremer served the opening stretch, which included a
Sarah Carnathan kill from
Sophie Skinner and Kremer's ace. The Sugar Bears later went back ahead 9-8 on Fiona VanDyke's kill from
Cameron McDaniel, but Southern Miss moved in front from there and finished the set.
Central Arkansas pushed the third set deep into extra points, moving in front 25-24 on a Sargent-Button block and continuing to answer Southern Miss late, as the teams traded points. Button,
Kennady Martindale, Haas and Carnathan each supplied points after 26-all, while Kremer added a service ace at 31-31. Southern Miss scored the final two points to take the set, 35-33, and the match 3-0.
Cameron McDaniel
- 16 digs
Olivia Kremer
- 3 service aces
- 12 digs
Greyson Button
- 6 total blocks
- 5 kills
- 8 points
Nicole Sargent
- 8 kills with 2 errors on 20 attempts
- .300 hitting percentage
- 2 total blocks
- 9 points
Tatelyn Brandsma
- 18 assists
Next, the Sugar Bears (0-4) will take on Ole Miss (3-2) on Sunday, at noon for the final match of the Rebel Classic. The match will be streamed on SECN+, with live stats available online.
