JONESBORO, Ark. ? The University of South Alabama volleyball fought hard Saturday afternoon but dropped a 3-0 (21-30, 23-30, 30-32) Sun Belt Conference decision to Arkansas State at the Convocation Center.

South Alabama (7-13, 2-8 SBC) will next face Alabama State in Montgomery on Tuesday at 5 p.m., before returning home to host Denver and North Texas next weekend.  Arkansas State moves to 8-13 on the year and 4-5 in league play with the win.

ASU’s Robin Aaron led all players with 18 kills, while USA was paced by Brittany Blackwelder and Hristina Markova’s 11 kills each.  Jenna Swilley also chipped in with 10 kills.  Indian setter Katie Piel was one kill shy of recording a triple double on the afternoon as she finished with nine kills, 34 assists and 17 digs.

GAME ONE: Arkansas State 30, South Alabama 21

Arkansas State took control of game one when holding a one point lead (12-11), the Indians reeled off five straight points to stretch the lead out to 17-11.  USA’s Blackwelder ended the ASU run and pulled the Jags to within two with back-to-back kills, but the Indians later pushed across five more unanswered points to take a comfortable eight point lead (26-18).  Arkansas State came out of the gate hot offensively in the opener, recording a .375 hitting percentage en route to the 30-21.

GAME TWO: Arkansas State 30, South Alabama 23

In the second game of the match, South Alabama got off to a quick 7-2 start, but the host Indians answered right back with seven of the next eight points to take a 9-8 lead on a Jaguar attack error.  Over the next several points, the two clubs battled back-and-forth until with the Jags leading 12-11, ASU’s Christin Baker started a four-point spurt that put the Indians back up 15-12.  USA quickly tied the contest back up three points later courtesy of three consecutive ASU attack errors.  Arkansas State’s Aaron and Kristen Catalene gave the Indians the lead right back though with back-to-back putaways.  The Jags were able to get as close as one two other times, but South Alabama could draw no closer.  Arkansas State for the second straight game again hit over .300 and went on to take a 2-0 match lead with the 30-23 victory.

GAME THREE: Arkansas State 32, South Alabama 30

Coming out of the intermission in game three, ASU took the early control, jumping out to an 11-4 lead.  Still trailing by seven at 13-6, South Alabama began to mount its charge.  Markova led a 10-2 Jaguar run over the next several points that gave USA its first lead of the third game.  During the scoring spurt, Markova recorded four of her 11 kills.  With the Jags later down 20-18, USA went on another run, this one a 6-2 spurt that was highlighted by a pair of Juliana Pallamin de Almeida aces that put South Alabama up 24-20.  The Indians though battled back and tied the contest back up at 26-26.  The two clubs later went into extra points and Blackwelder put the Jags just one point away at 30-29 with another kill, but Arkansas State answered with the final three points to take the game and the match with the 32-30 win.