Admission to all Jaguar home matches is free.  As with all home matches, the contest versus the Owls will be web cast and available via the web at www.usajaguars.com as part of the Jaguar Nation package.  A monthly subscription to Jaguar Nation is just $9.95.  T-shirts will also be tossed out to fans every time the Jags record an ace. 

South Alabama (8-9, 2-7 SBC) enters the Sun Belt Conference match on Sunday versus Florida Atlantic after falling 3-1 to Florida International on Friday night.  The Jags played well the first two sets, earning a split only to set the Golden Panthers come out of the intermission and control each of the final two sets.  The second set victory for USA over FIU was the first in the series for the Jags since the 2004 season.

Sophomore outside hitters Hristina Markova and Juliana Pallamin de Almeida led USA offensively with 13 and 12 kills, respectively, in the loss.

Coming into the contest versus the Owls, four starters are averaging over two kills each, led by Almeida’s 2.65 kills per set.  Almeida has also recorded five double-doubles in USA’s nine conference matches this season.  Markova ranks close behind Almeida with 2.54 kps, followed by Schwartz (2.17 kps) and Tereza Bendlova (2.11 kps).

Defensively, freshman libero Samia Salomao leads the way with 4.12 digs per set, fourth-best in the SBC.  Through 17 matches, Salomao has recorded double-digit dig tallies 13 times.  Schwartz and senior middle blocker Brittany Blackwelder have been strong on the front line defense for the Jags this season as the duo ranked third and eighth in the Sun Belt, respectively, in blocks per set entering play this weekend.  Schwartz comes into the match against FAU averaging a team-best 1.11 per set, while Blackwelder is close behind (1.00 bps). 

As a team, South Alabama ranked second in the Sun Belt in service aces per game with 1.46 per set, while also ranking fourth in the league in opponent hitting percentage (.174) and blocks (2.24 per set).

Florida Atlantic comes into play this weekend with a 10-9 record on the season and a 3-4 mark in the Sun Belt.  Last weekend, FAU split its matches against North Texas and Denver.  On Friday, the Owls picked up a 3-1 victory over the Mean Green, but were swept 3-0 by the Pioneers on Saturday.  On Friday, the Owls were swept 3-0 (18-25, 24-26, 19-25) on the road at Troy.  Against FAU, the Trojans were able to hit over .300 in each of the three sets, finishing the match with a .310 attack percentage.

Offensively, the Owls are led by junior middle blocker Krystena Castro’s 2.79 kills per set.  Castro is also hitting an impressive .321 on the year.

As she has done all season, sophomore right side hitter and Mobile, native Morgan Johns has been an extreme threat from behind the service line.  For a majority of the season, Johns has led the Sun Belt in service aces and enters this weekend’s play averaging 0.53 per set - 19th in NCAA.  In league play, she has been even better, averaging 0.67 per set. 

The front line defense of the Owls has also been a strength this season.  As a team, FAU ranks third in the conference in blocks with 2.33, but leads the SBC in that category in league matches, averaging 2.73 per set.  The duo of Katie Arvidson (1.16) and Castro (1.05) have led the way as they rank second and sixth in the league in that category.  The Owl tandem has elevated their play in Sun Belt action as they rank first and second, respectively, in the league matches only.

The meeting between South Alabama and Florida Atlantic this weekend will be just the seventh-ever in the all-time series.  FAU holds a narrow 4-2 series lead over the Jags.  The two clubs split a pair of 3-2 victories last season, with each team taking the home court meeting.  The Owls also defeated USA 3-2 in Boca Raton, Fla., earlier this season.  USA dropped the opening two sets, but came out and sent the match into a fifth and deciding set with victories in sets three and four, before falling to the Owls.

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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