Box Score

LAFAYETTE, La. – Houston Baptist sophomore outside hitter Jasmine Casey returned to the starting lineup for the first time since suffering an injury in the season-opener and recorded 15 kills and a career-high 25 digs as the Huskies downed Southern Mississippi, 3-1 (23-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-21) Saturday morning in the Bon Temps Invitational at Earl K. Long Gym.
 
Sophomore middle blocker Madeline Gaffney added 11 kills and four blocks, while junior middle blocker Caiti Wenger had 10 kills and five blocks for the Huskies (4-2). Senior outside hitter Heather Leaverton had eight kills and 16 digs. Senior setter Victoria Weatherly dished out 43 assists, and sophomore libero Esther Longoria had 18 digs.
 
Lydia Bonner led Southern Miss (1-4) with 17 kills, while Jasmine Crowell, Quinci Hayward and Halie Ecker each had eight. Kristen Fleming had 45 assists and 12 digs for the Golden Eagles. They were led defensively by Elizabeth Rinaudo, who recorded 20 digs, Alex Pfefferle with 13 and Mary Pursell with 11.
 
HBU hit .136 for the match, and held Southern Miss to a .102 attack percentage. The Golden Eagles outdug the Huskies, 81-72, but HBU held the advantage in blocks, 10-7, and aces, 6-3.
 
With the score tied 7-7 in the first set, Southern Miss scored five-straight points, but HBU answered back with four in a row to get back to within one. The Golden Eagles took their largest lead of the set when they scored four straight to lead 18-12, but the Huskies clawed back then scored four in a row to tie the set 23-23. Southern Miss then scored the last final two points to edge HBU in the first set, 25-23.
 
Southern Miss took a 9-6 lead early in the second, but HBU went on a seven-point run to go up 13-9. The Golden Eagles got to within one at 17-16, but the Huskies scored four-straight to take a five-point lead. Southern Miss scored three in a row to close the gap to 23-21, but HBU scored the final two points to even the match with a 25-21 decision. Leaverton led the Huskies with four kills in the set.
 
HBU took a 9-5 lead in the third on back-to-back kills by Gaffney and took its largest lead of the set by scoring four-straight points to take a 20-13 advantage. Southern Miss answered with its own four-point run to make it 21-18, but the Huskies went on to close out the set, 25-20. Wenger and Casey each had four kills in the set, with Casey recording 11 digs and Wenger posting four blocks, including two solo.
 
The Huskies scored the first two points of the fourth and never looked back as they extended their early lead to 8-2. Southern Miss got to within three at 13-10 and 19-16, but HBU turned away the Golden Eagles' threat and clinched the match with a 25-21 victory. Casey and Gaffney took over offensive in the final set, each recording five kills.
 
The Huskies conclude the tournament this afternoon against future Southland Conference rival McNeese State at 2 p.m.