HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The University of Tennessee Southern volleyball team battled one of the Southern States Athletic Conference's top teams on Friday evening, but William Carey University rallied for a 3-1 victory (20-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-22) over the Firehawks. The loss moved UT Southern to 11-15 overall and 7-6 in SSAC play.
The Firehawks opened the match with a strong performance, claiming the first set 25-20 behind a .364 hitting percentage and 14 kills. UT Southern kept the pressure on throughout the contest, but the Crusaders won three consecutive tightly contested sets to secure the conference victory.
Emma Beardsley led the Firehawks offensively with a match-high 17 kills while hitting .325. She also added nine digs, two service aces, and three total blocks in an all-around performance.
Meloise Aureyre contributed 13 kills, seven digs, and four total blocks, while Ashlee Kraft recorded 11 kills, 10 digs, and two service aces to notch a double-double.
Sophomore setter Jelleny Mallozzi continued her strong campaign with 43 assists and 10 digs, recording a double-double while directing a Firehawk offense that totaled 50 kills.
Defensively, Ashley Cope paced UT Southern with 17 digs, helping the Firehawks match William Carey with 60 digs in the match. Olivia Ward added five digs and two block assists, while Irby Norris chipped in four kills and two block assists.
UT Southern seized momentum early with its first-set victory and remained in contention throughout the night. The second set featured seven ties and three lead changes before William Carey earned a 25-21 win to even the match. The Crusaders narrowly claimed the third set, 25-22, in a frame that featured 12 ties and nine lead changes.
The fourth set continued the back-and-forth battle as neither team could create much separation. William Carey eventually pulled away late to secure a 25-22 victory and close out the match. The contest featured 32 ties and 19 lead changes across the four sets, highlighting just how competitive the matchup was.
Match Notes
Up Next
UT Southern concludes its weekend road trip on Saturday afternoon when the Firehawks travel to Mobile, Alabama, to face Mobile in another critical SSAC matchup.
FOLLOW THE FIREHAWKS
Tap in with everything happening around UT Southern Athletics and keep up with the Firehawks all season long.
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/utsathletics
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utsouthernathletics
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UTSouthernFirehawks
Scores, highlights, announcements, behind-the-scenes content, and more — stay connected and rep the Firehawks everywhere you go. Go Firehawks!
