Southern Miss Beach Volleyball Finishes Day One at LSU Tiger Beach Challenge

The University of Southern Mississippi beach volleyball team concluded its first day at LSU’s Tiger Beach Challenge with an 0-2 record, according to the school’s athletics department. The Golden Eagles fell 4-1 to the host Tigers and 3-2 to North Alabama in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Southern Miss started the day against No. 12 LSU and came close to upsetting the nationally ranked hosts. LSU took the first points at the fourth pairing, winning both sets by a combined 10 points. Southern Miss’s Y-Nhu Do and Lillie Johnson nearly earned a point at the fifth flight but lost in three sets, giving LSU a 2-0 lead in the dual.

The Golden Eagles pushed LSU at the top flight with Laurel Dennis and Sadie McAda forcing the Tigers into two close sets before falling 21-17 and 21-19. Zuzanna Michalska and Abby Lewis secured a victory at the second flight in straight sets, 21-14 and 21-17, earning Southern Miss its only point of the dual.

Later, Southern Miss faced North Alabama and lost 3-2. The Golden Eagles took the first point thanks to Iustina Corcoz and Margarita Grigoreva winning in straight sets at the fourth pairing. North Alabama responded with a three-set win at the fifth pairing to tie the dual, and the Lions took the third flight in three sets, with a late run sealing their victory at the second pairing.

Southern Miss will continue play Saturday with matches against No. 18 Washington at 8 a.m. and Tulane at 3:30 p.m., according to the schedule. The team aims to improve its record in the remaining matches of the tournament.

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