NORFOLK, Va. – Down two sets to one, Old Dominion University Volleyball dominated Southern Miss 25-14 in the fourth set but the Monarchs were unable to complete the comeback, falling 18-16 in the fifth set on Thursday night.
Old Dominion (11-15, 6-7 Sun Belt) held a 14-13 lead in the final set but Southern Miss was able to come back and secure the 18-16 win.
Southern Miss 3 ODU 2
Myah Conway had a game-high 24 kills, while Ashley Peroe had 13 kills and Hailey Duncan finished with 11.
Mia Wesley had a team-high 21 kills for Southern Miss (18-9, 10-5) and Cara Atkinson finished with 20.
In a tight first set, Southern Miss led 9-8 and scored and went on an 11-4 run to take a 20-13 lead. A Duncan kill cut the Golden Eagle lead to 22-18 but that was as close as ODU would get as USM took the first set 25-19.
The second set was tied at five before ODU went on a 12-6 run cemented by a Conway kill.
Southern Miss cut the lead to 20-18 but a pair of kills by Peroe and one by Conway slammed the door for the Monarchs to win set two 25-20.
The third set was like the first two as it was even early before the Golden Eagles pulled to a 20-14 lead. The Monarchs got to within four at 23-19 by a block from Conway but USM finished the set with a 25-20 win.
Old Dominion dominated the fourth set from the beginning as ODU went on a 10-2 run to take a 10-point lead at 19-9. USM cut the lead to 22-13 but kills by Bailey Burgess, Teresa Atilano and Duncan gave ODU the 25-14 lead.
The two teams are back in action tomorrow in the final regular season game for both teams. It will be Senior Day for the Monarchs. The match begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be on ESPN+.
Volleyball Falls in Five Set Thriller to Southern Miss, 3-2
Myah Conway