Southern Miss Volleyball splits matches at Third Coast Challenge in Houston

The University of Southern Mississippi volleyball team concluded its two-day stay in Houston at the Third Coast Challenge with a record of one win and one loss. The Golden Eagles fell to No. 3 Cal Poly but defeated Houston Christian on Saturday.

Southern Miss opened the day against Cal Poly, a team ranked third nationally. The Mustangs, who boast three All-American players from last season, won all five matches in the dual. The Golden Eagles’ second pairing of Zuzanna Michalska and Abby Lewis narrowly lost their two sets, 21-19 and 21-15, against Cal Poly’s No. 2 team.

Cal Poly secured victory with quick wins at the fourth and third pairs and finished the dual with wins at flights one and five, remaining undefeated at 4-0 for the weekend. Southern Miss’s overall record at the tournament was 2-2.

In the final match of the weekend, Southern Miss defeated Houston Christian 3-2. Iustina Corcoz and Margarita Grigoreva earned the first point for the Golden Eagles with a straight-set win at the fourth pair. The Huskies responded with a win at the second flight, but Jaden White and Kitija Martini Adamsone put Southern Miss ahead again at the third flight.

Top-flight players Laurel Dennis and Sadie McAda sealed the victory for Southern Miss, clinching the dual despite HCU earning the final point. Dennis and McAda finished with a team-leading 3-1 pair record for the weekend.

Southern Miss now prepares for the Tiger Beach Challenge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, starting Feb. 27. They will face LSU, North Alabama, No. 19 Washington, and No. 20 Tulane over the two-day event.

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