Troy University Athletics
Friday, November 8
Hattiesburg, Miss.
6 p.m.
Troy University
12-12,7-7Sun Belt
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Southern Miss
9-17,5-9Sun Belt
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Troy
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Southern Miss.
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Tori Hester Sets Program Record, Troy Defeats Southern Miss in Five Sets
11/8/2024 11:07:00 PM | Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss – Tori Hester shined once again, as she set the program record for all-time kills in Troy's thrilling come-from-behind win over Southern Miss in five sets on Friday night at the Wellness Center.
On her 20th kill of the night, Hester hit 1,672 in her career, breaking the previous record set by Cheyenne Hayes in 2021 and stands alone atop the Troy record book in kills and points (1,929.5). Hester finished the night with 30 kills on 84 attempts and is the first Trojan to record 30 or more kills in back-to-back matches after recording 33 in Thursday night's victory. Rachel Hassan had 30 kills twice in 2002, but they were not in consecutive matches.
Hester finished her historic weekend with 63 kills on 186 attempts with 25 errors for a .206 hitting percentage. She is also the program leader in kills per set (3.99) and sits at 451 kills this season. She has recorded 440-plus kills in each of the last three seasons. Hester's match streak with double-digit kills was extended to 46, which continues to be the longest known active streak in Division I women's volleyball.
Troy (12-12, 7-7 SBC) dropped the first and third sets on Friday, and things were looking bleak in the fourth set, but the Trojans – much like on Thursday night – found a way to come out ahead in the fifth set. Southern Miss (9-17, 5-9 SBC) had zero answer for Hester all weekend on the defensive side of the court.
Kalina Calvillo (10 kills) and Sara Bates (eight kills) came up with clutch moments in both victories this weekend.
On defense, Hester had 13 digs to record her 11th double-double of the season, while Janelle Stuempfig led Troy with a career-high 20 digs. Stuempfig also had 43 assists to put together her fourth double-double of the year. Audrey Worthington led the team with four blocks, while Hester and Stuempfig each had three.
The Trojans also won the serving battle with six aces compared to the Golden Eagles four. Troy only committed four errors from the service line.
Set 1: Southern Miss 25-20
Troy struggled to get into a consistent rhythm on offense in the first frame and found itself down 16-12. While the Trojans tried to close the gap, the Golden Eagles held the lead for the remainder of the set and took a 1-0 match lead, just like on Thursday night.
The Trojans hit .244 in the set, but Southern Miss was even better, posting a .389 hitting clip.
Set 2: Troy 25-22
The set was tied at 8-8 through the first 16 points before Troy started to hit its groove. The Trojans went on an 8-0 run to make it 16-8 and force a Southern Miss timeout. Troy got great serving from Stuempfig during that stretch. Southern Miss was able to cut Troy's lead to two, but never got closer than that. A service error by Southern Miss closed out the frame and tied the match at 1-1.
The offense for Troy struggled with a .188 hitting clip but got six kills from Hester. On defense, the Trojans held the Golden Eagles to .200 hitting.
Set 3: Southern Miss 25-21
Despite losing the third set, it was one of the most historically significant sets in program history, as Hester recorded her record-breaking kill to cut the Southern Miss lead to 23-19. The Golden Eagles won the set on a Troy service error.
The Trojans hit .000 in the set, while Southern Miss hit .174. Hester had seven kills in the frame.
Set 4: Troy 25-23
Things were looking bleak for the Trojans in the fourth Set as the Golden Eagles were in command for much of the set and took a 20-11 lead. However, thanks to great serving by Olivia Grantham, the Trojans went on a 9-0 run to tie things at 20-20. Southern Miss took a 23-22 lead but a kill by Hester and back-to-back aces by Jordan Sinness won Troy the set and tied the match at 2-2.
Set 5: Troy 15-10
The Trojans came out on fire in the final set, opening on a 4-0 run to take a commanding lead early. The Trojans led 10-6 and forced Southern Miss to use their final timeout of the match. The Golden Eagles tried to close the gap, but never led or saw a tie score during the set. Hester closed things out on a solo block to give Troy its second consecutive Sun Belt series sweep.
Quotable: head coach Josh Lauer
"Just another all-out amazing team performance tonight. From being down so big in the fourth set and Olivia Grantham coming in and making that service run. The defensive effort by everyone. The play that Caroline Darracott and Audrey Worthington brought to the court off the bench. Just a really phenomenal team after tonight. I couldn't be more proud of all of our players and how they played for each other.
Lauer on Tori Hester
"The all-time leader in kills. She led us both nights with back-to-back 30 kill matches. Just really impressive, and so thankful and happy for her. She deserves all the accolades. She's a great player and absolutely one of the all-time best in Troy history."
Up Next
Troy closes out the regular season on Thursday and Friday in Trojan Arena, as it welcomes App State for a pair of matches. First serve for both days is set for 6 p.m. Troy will recognize Carolina Darracott, Tori Hester, Janelle Stuempfig and Sophie Sparks prior to Friday's match on Senior Night.
Notables
• Tori Hester is Troy's all-time leader in kills (1,682) and points (1,929.5) after recording 63 kills in Troy's two victories over Southern Miss, including 30 on Friday night.
• Tori Hester is also the program leader in kills per set with 3.99.
• Tori Hester has 451 kills this year, which are the second-most in a season in her career. She has record 440-plus kills in each of the last three seasons.
• Tori Hester's match streak with double-digit kills was extended to 46, which continues to be the longest known active streak in Division I women's volleyball.
• Tori Hester had 13 digs to record her 11th double-double of the season.
• Janelle Stuempfig had 43 assists and a career-high 20 digs to record her fourth double-double of the year.
• Kalina Calvillo had 10 kills on Friday night and has recorded double-digit kills in seven straight matches.
• Sara Bates followed up her career night on Thursday with eight kills on Friday.
• Troy moves to 8-6 all-time against Southern Miss and has won five straight matches against the Golden Eagles.
On her 20th kill of the night, Hester hit 1,672 in her career, breaking the previous record set by Cheyenne Hayes in 2021 and stands alone atop the Troy record book in kills and points (1,929.5). Hester finished the night with 30 kills on 84 attempts and is the first Trojan to record 30 or more kills in back-to-back matches after recording 33 in Thursday night's victory. Rachel Hassan had 30 kills twice in 2002, but they were not in consecutive matches.
Hester finished her historic weekend with 63 kills on 186 attempts with 25 errors for a .206 hitting percentage. She is also the program leader in kills per set (3.99) and sits at 451 kills this season. She has recorded 440-plus kills in each of the last three seasons. Hester's match streak with double-digit kills was extended to 46, which continues to be the longest known active streak in Division I women's volleyball.
Troy (12-12, 7-7 SBC) dropped the first and third sets on Friday, and things were looking bleak in the fourth set, but the Trojans – much like on Thursday night – found a way to come out ahead in the fifth set. Southern Miss (9-17, 5-9 SBC) had zero answer for Hester all weekend on the defensive side of the court.
Kalina Calvillo (10 kills) and Sara Bates (eight kills) came up with clutch moments in both victories this weekend.
On defense, Hester had 13 digs to record her 11th double-double of the season, while Janelle Stuempfig led Troy with a career-high 20 digs. Stuempfig also had 43 assists to put together her fourth double-double of the year. Audrey Worthington led the team with four blocks, while Hester and Stuempfig each had three.
The Trojans also won the serving battle with six aces compared to the Golden Eagles four. Troy only committed four errors from the service line.
Set 1: Southern Miss 25-20
Troy struggled to get into a consistent rhythm on offense in the first frame and found itself down 16-12. While the Trojans tried to close the gap, the Golden Eagles held the lead for the remainder of the set and took a 1-0 match lead, just like on Thursday night.
The Trojans hit .244 in the set, but Southern Miss was even better, posting a .389 hitting clip.
Set 2: Troy 25-22
The set was tied at 8-8 through the first 16 points before Troy started to hit its groove. The Trojans went on an 8-0 run to make it 16-8 and force a Southern Miss timeout. Troy got great serving from Stuempfig during that stretch. Southern Miss was able to cut Troy's lead to two, but never got closer than that. A service error by Southern Miss closed out the frame and tied the match at 1-1.
The offense for Troy struggled with a .188 hitting clip but got six kills from Hester. On defense, the Trojans held the Golden Eagles to .200 hitting.
Set 3: Southern Miss 25-21
Despite losing the third set, it was one of the most historically significant sets in program history, as Hester recorded her record-breaking kill to cut the Southern Miss lead to 23-19. The Golden Eagles won the set on a Troy service error.
The Trojans hit .000 in the set, while Southern Miss hit .174. Hester had seven kills in the frame.
Set 4: Troy 25-23
Things were looking bleak for the Trojans in the fourth Set as the Golden Eagles were in command for much of the set and took a 20-11 lead. However, thanks to great serving by Olivia Grantham, the Trojans went on a 9-0 run to tie things at 20-20. Southern Miss took a 23-22 lead but a kill by Hester and back-to-back aces by Jordan Sinness won Troy the set and tied the match at 2-2.
Set 5: Troy 15-10
The Trojans came out on fire in the final set, opening on a 4-0 run to take a commanding lead early. The Trojans led 10-6 and forced Southern Miss to use their final timeout of the match. The Golden Eagles tried to close the gap, but never led or saw a tie score during the set. Hester closed things out on a solo block to give Troy its second consecutive Sun Belt series sweep.
Quotable: head coach Josh Lauer
"Just another all-out amazing team performance tonight. From being down so big in the fourth set and Olivia Grantham coming in and making that service run. The defensive effort by everyone. The play that Caroline Darracott and Audrey Worthington brought to the court off the bench. Just a really phenomenal team after tonight. I couldn't be more proud of all of our players and how they played for each other.
Lauer on Tori Hester
"The all-time leader in kills. She led us both nights with back-to-back 30 kill matches. Just really impressive, and so thankful and happy for her. She deserves all the accolades. She's a great player and absolutely one of the all-time best in Troy history."
Up Next
Troy closes out the regular season on Thursday and Friday in Trojan Arena, as it welcomes App State for a pair of matches. First serve for both days is set for 6 p.m. Troy will recognize Carolina Darracott, Tori Hester, Janelle Stuempfig and Sophie Sparks prior to Friday's match on Senior Night.
Notables
• Tori Hester is Troy's all-time leader in kills (1,682) and points (1,929.5) after recording 63 kills in Troy's two victories over Southern Miss, including 30 on Friday night.
• Tori Hester is also the program leader in kills per set with 3.99.
• Tori Hester has 451 kills this year, which are the second-most in a season in her career. She has record 440-plus kills in each of the last three seasons.
• Tori Hester's match streak with double-digit kills was extended to 46, which continues to be the longest known active streak in Division I women's volleyball.
• Tori Hester had 13 digs to record her 11th double-double of the season.
• Janelle Stuempfig had 43 assists and a career-high 20 digs to record her fourth double-double of the year.
• Kalina Calvillo had 10 kills on Friday night and has recorded double-digit kills in seven straight matches.
• Sara Bates followed up her career night on Thursday with eight kills on Friday.
• Troy moves to 8-6 all-time against Southern Miss and has won five straight matches against the Golden Eagles.
Team Stats
TROY
USM
Kills
62
65
Errors
30
24
Attempts
191
191
Hitting %
.168
.215
Points
75.0
83.0
Assists
58
60
Aces
6
4
Blocks
7
14
Game Leaders
Kills
30
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
2
Blocks
0
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
Outside Hitter
/ VolleyballOutside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Defensive Specialist
/ Volleyball
Defensive Specialist
/ VolleyballOutside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Middle Hitter
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Troy vs. Arkansas State (Full Highlights)
Friday, October 24
Josh Lauer Postmatch Press Conference - Arkansas State (Thurs.)
Thursday, October 23