HATTIESBURG, MS - Host team Southern Mississippi trailed only once in any of the three sets as the Eagles defeated Sam Houston State 25-14 25-20 25-14 in the Bearkats' first match at the USM Golden Eagle Volleyball Classic Friday afternoon.

Anna Ferguson and Carli Kolbe led Sam Houston with six kills apiece. Ashley Mell led the Eagles with 11 kills.

USM jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first set. The Bearkats cut the margin to four once at 10-6.

Sam Houston held a brief 2-1 lead in the second set and the score was tied three times. Holding a one point lead at 14-13, the Eagles won 11 of the next 18 points to take the second frame.

The pair were tied at 7-7 in the third set before Southern Mississippi went on an 18-8 run to close out the match. Sam Houston stands 4-2 for the year while USM is 4-1.

A tough Eagle defense blocked 10 Bearkat scoring attempts and held Sam Houston to a .018 hitting percentage. Meanwhile, USM produced 43 kills and only 17 errors in 120 attempts for a .217 hitting mean.

Sam Houston will play two more matches at the Southern Mississippi tournament Saturday, taking on Louisiana Tech at 9 a.m. and Jacksonville at 11:30 a.m. The Bearkats play host to the University of Houston at Johnson Coliseum Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Box Score

Sep 04, 2009 at Hattiesburg, Miss.

  Southern Miss def. Sam Houston St. 25-14,25-20,25-15

  Sam Houston St. (4-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ferguson, Anna 6-1-6; Kolbe, Carli 6-0-1; Black, Kim 5-0-1; Phillips, Katie 2-0-1; Stewart, Kelli 2-0-1; Alfaro, Camille 1-0-0; Hawkins, Kaylee 0-1-0; Loving, Kym 0-1-3; Totals 22-3-7.0. (Assists) - Loving, Kym 13. (Dig leaders)  Haas, Jamie 15; Loving, Kym 10

  Southern Miss (4-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - CLARKE, Caitlin 12-0-1 MELL, Ashley 11-1-4; BOWDEN, Sarah Jane 8-0-3; SEARS, Lauren 5-0-5;HLAVATY, Angela 3-0-4; HENDRICKSON, Amelia 2-0-0; SEYMOUR, Kelsea2-1-1; IVANOVA, Maia 0-2-0; Totals 43-4-9.0. (Assists) - SEYMOUR,Kelsea 38. (Dig leaders) - IVANOVA, Maia 26; SEYMOUR, Kelsea 11