MOBILE, Ala. ? The University of South Alabama volleyball team fought hard for the opening two sets of the match, but it was not enough as the Jags fell 3-1 (22-25, 25-22, 18-25, 15-25) to Sun Belt Conference East Division leader Florida International Friday night at Jag Gym
With the loss, USA falls to 8-9 on the year and 2-7 in Sun Belt action, while the Golden Panthers improve to 16-4 and 6-1 in league play. The Jags will return to action on Sunday when they host Florida Atlantic at 1 p.m.
Offensively, South Alabama was led by sophomore outside hitters Hristina Markova and Juliana Pallamin de Almeida. Markova led the team with 13 kills, while Almeida was right behind her with 12 kills of her own. FIU placed three players in double figures led by the Sun Belt Conference’s Preseason Player of the Year Yarimir Rosa. The junior outside hitter recorded a match-high 20 kills, while also chipping in with 10 digs. Rosa also recorded five or more kills in three of the four sets on the night.
SET ONE: Florida International 25, South Alabama 22
Florida International jumped out early on the Jags, leading by as much as seven on a couple of occasions, the last coming at 13-6 after an Andrea Lakovic kill. USA began to claw its way back though. With South Alabama trailing by three (19-16), Tereza Bendlova and Almeida ignited run of five unanswered Jaguar points that saw USA take its first lead since the opening point at 21-19. The Jaguar momentum was short-lived though as FIU answered back with a 6-1 run of its own to close out the match and take the set, 25-22.
SET TWO: South Alabama 25, Florida International 22
In the second set, it was the Jags turn to get off to a quick start as USA pushed across seven of the first nine points to open the frame. Freshman middle blocker Lindsay Schwartz capped off the run and put the Jags up by five when she recorded one of her eight kills on the night. For much of the remainder of the set, FIU would battle back and pull within only to see USA stretch its lead back out to five. Florida International finally was able to pull to within a point of tying things up at 21-20 after a Natalia Valentin service ace, but that was as close as the Golden Panthers would get as Markova was able to take the next point with another kill. USA stretched its lead back out and held on to take the 25-22 set two victory. The set victory was the first for the Jags over the Golden Panthers since doing so back during the 2004 season.
SET THREE: Florida International 25, South Alabama 18
Coming out of the intermission, Florida International broke an early 7-7 tie with a run of six unanswered points. The scoring spurt for the Golden Panthers was spurred on by three Jaguar attack errors and two Angelina Colon service aces. USA was unable to answer back and could only get as close as four the rest of the way, as FIU went on to take the set 25-18 and go up in the match 2-1.
SET FOUR: Florida International 25, South Alabama 15
Sitting one set victory away from taking the match, the Golden Panthers opened set four with a 10-3 run and never looked back. USA was only able to get as close as five (13-8) after a Brittany Blackwelder kill, before seeing Florida International push its lead back out. The Golden Panthers were never threatened after that and went on to take the match and the set with the 25-15 victory. The FIU offense also posted its best numbers of the night in the final set, recording 15 kills on 24 attempts, while committing just three errors for a .500 hitting percentage.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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