MONTGOMERY, Ala. ? South Alabama sophomore outside hitter Taylor Irvin’s career-high 13 kills and 13 digs helped lead the Jaguar volleyball team to a 3-1 (24-30, 30-20, 30-19, 30-15) non-conference victory over Alabama State Tuesday night at Lockhart Gym.

With the win, USA improves to 8-13 on the season, while ASU drops to 2-18 with the loss.  The Jags will now return home to take on Denver on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Jag Gym.

South Alabama had three players record double digit kill tallies in the win over the Hornets led by Brittany Blackwelder’s 16 kills.  The junior middle blocker also recorded a season-best .609 hitting percentage.  Hristina Markova was right behind Blackwelder with 15 and Irvin was the third Jag to finish in double digits.  Joia Franks led Alabama State with 12 kills of her own.

The .351 attack percentage by the Jags was the second highest for the team this season.

GAME ONE: Alabama State 30, South Alabama 24

In the opening game with the score tied 4-4 early on, the host Hornets used a 7-2 run over the next nine points to take control.  Jessica Holt capped off the ASU run when she put down one of her 10 kills on the night.  Alabama State later grabbed its largest lead of the night at 20-11 after a Jaguar ball handling error.  USA could never get anything going the rest of the opener and went on to drop the contest, 30-24.

GAME TWO: South Alabama 30, Alabama State 20

After hitting just a .045 in game one, the Jaguar offense found itself in game two.  South Alabama was able to convert 16 of its 23 offensive attempts in to points, while committing just one error for a .739 hitting percentage.  With the Jags holding an 11-9 lead, Markova slammed home on of her kills to ignite a 9-2 run to give South Alabama control for the remainder of the game.  USA took its largest lead of the second contests after Lauren Robbins and Jenna Swilley combined to block an Aletha Russell shot.  The Jags went on to even the match up at one game apiece with the 30-20 victory. 

GAME THREE: South Alabama 30, Alabama State 19

In game three, Alabama State took four of the first five points, but South Alabama responded right back and quickly tied the contest back up after a Swilley put away.  Tied at 8-8, USA grabbed the lead for good when the Jags took six of the next eight points for a four point lead at 14-10.  South Alabama later stretched its margin out to 11 (29-18) after an ASU ball handling error and an Irvin service ace, one of her three in the match.  The Jags took game three 30-19.

GAME FOUR: South Alabama 30, Alabama State 15

South Alabama came out in the finale and grabbed control from the outset, running off seven of the first 10 points.  The Hornets were able to get as close as two points on a couple of occasions, the last coming at 9-7 on a Shajuana Pina kill, but over the next nine points USA took seven of them to stretch its lead back out to seven (16-9).  Alabama State did not threaten the rest of the way and Markova sealed the 30-15 victory with another kill.