HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Southern Miss Volleyball opened the 2026 season with a 3-0 sweep of Nicholls on Saturday at the Wellness Center. The Golden Eagles won the sets by scores of 25-17, 25-9, and 25-10, in their final exhibition match before the regular season.
Southern Miss proved too much for the Colonels throughout the match. Sadie McAda led the team with 11 kills, while Elly Stewart added 10. Sunni Sheppard contributed from the service line with five aces and also recorded nine digs, making her presence felt on both offense and defense.
The first set was competitive, with both teams trading points early. Southern Miss took a 20-10 lead before Nicholls responded with a 7-3 run. Despite the rally, the Golden Eagles held on to win the set 25-17. The second set was all Southern Miss, highlighted by a 13-0 run that included four aces from Sheppard, sealing a 25-9 victory. The Golden Eagles continued their momentum into the third set, establishing a 21-8 lead and closing out the match 25-10.
Following the main match, the teams played two additional exhibition sets, with Southern Miss winning the fourth and Nicholls claiming the fifth. The Golden Eagles now prepare for the upcoming regular season at the Cocky Classic in Jacksonville, Alabama, beginning Aug. 28. They will face Southern on Friday and Jacksonville and Jacksonville State on Saturday.
Fans can follow Southern Miss Volleyball on Instagram (@southernmissvball), X (@southernmissvb), and Facebook (Southern Miss Volleyball) for updates.
