Sept. 5, 2008

Box Score

Box Score

LAKE CHARLES, La. - The Southern Miss volleyball team claimed two victories in the first day of the McNeese State Invitational with wins over Mississippi State (3-1) and Grambling State (3-0).

With the wins, the Golden Eagles pushed their record to 5-0, the best start since the 1996 season when the Eagles began the season also at 5-0.

Southern Miss had three players double-digit kills, led by Ashley Petrinec with 13 followed by Angela Hlavaty and Stevi Cherry with 10 apiece. Maia Ivanova recorded a match-high 27 digs.

The Golden Eagles took the first set, 25-19, before State bounced back to even the match with a 25-13 win in the second set. Southern Miss fell behind by as many as six points early, but manage to put together a 14-7 run to take the lead for good in the third set, then hanging on for the 25-23 win. The Golden Eagles won the fourth set 25-22.

Southern Miss used a solid service game and tough defense in defeating Grambling State in three straight sets, 25-23, 25-18, 25-11.

Lauren Sears led the way with a match-high nine kills, followed by Hlavaty with seven. Ivanova finished with seven digs and four aces. The team finished with match with a .253 attack percentage and 12 aces.

The Golden Eagles return to action Saturday morning when the Southern Miss plays Nicholls State at 9 a.m.