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Probable Starters (based on last match):
#1
Ashlyn Lovett
#2
Meredith Eckard
# 3
Abby Strong
#7
Emily Jarome
#13
Baylor Bumford
#14
Grace Underwood
#20
Callaway Cason
• Georgia Southern meets Sun Belt newcomer Southern Miss in the conference tournament Thursday at 3:30 p.m. ET in the Foley Sports Complex in Foley, Alabama.
• The Eagles are the fifth seed in the East, and Southern Miss is the fourth seed in the West. This will be the first meeting between the teams this season and first since 2019, when Georgia Southern won 3-0 in Hanner Fieldhouse in the GS Invitational. This will be the third meeting between the teams on a neutral floor.
• The winner advances to play the East's first seed and Sun Belt regular-season champion, James Madison, Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET.
• This will mark the third consecutive year that the Sun Belt Tournament will take place in Foley, and each of the tournament's 11 matches will be broadcast on ESPN+.
• Georgia Southern owns a 2-4 all-time Sun Belt Tournament record and a 2-2 mark in Foley.Â
• GS is 1-2 on a neutral floor this season while Southern Miss owns a 5-1 record.
• Georgia Southern split its final two matches of the regular season at home last weekend, topping Troy 3-2 Friday and falling to the Trojans 3-1 Saturday. Southern Miss split a pair of matches at Old Dominion. The Golden Eagles won Thursday's match 3-2 and loss Friday's contest 3-1.
• Southern Miss has won six of its last eight contests, while Georgia Southern has lost five of its last six.
• Georgia Southern ranks 47th in the country in opponents' hitting percentage (.174) and 18th in aces (1.85), and the Eagles rank first in the Sun Belt in both categories. GS ranks second in the league in digs (15.38/set).
• Outside hitter
Emily Jarome was named the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and first-team All-Sun Belt. Jarome ranks sixth in the league in kills (3.76/set).
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Ashlyn Lovett ranks 17th in the nation and second in the Sun Belt in aces (0.51/set). The sophomore leads the Sun Belt in digs (4.35/set).
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Baylor Bumford collected her 300th career block at Appalachian State Nov. 5, and Lovett notched her 500th career dig at the Tussle in the Triad Sept. 2.
• The Eagles' roster has been bolstered by three transfers who are making an impact this season. Jarome was a three-time All-CAA selection at Towson and led the Tigers to three CAA Tournament Championships and subsequent NCAA Tournament appearances. Jarome's Eagle debut was her 100th career match, and she has 1,379 career kills, 962 digs, 216 blocks and 103 aces. Underwood, Jarome's club teammate on East Coast Power,  transferred from Delaware and has 314 career kills and 222 blocks.
Callaway Cason transferred from Ole Miss and ranks sixth in the Sun Belt in assists (9.43/set). Bumford is also a transfer, having come to Georgia Southern from UNCW prior to the 2019 season.
• Georgia Southern recorded its second straight winning season, its second consecutive winning campaign in home matches (8-4) and its second straight campaign with a .500 or better winning percentage in conference play.  The Eagles had two home league contests vs. Old Dominion canceled due to travel concerns caused by Hurricane Ian.
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