MIAMI ? The University of South Alabama volleyball team was swept 3-0 (13-25, 17-25, 25-27) by Florida International Friday night in its Sun Belt Conference opener at Pharmed Arena.

USA (6-3, 0-1 SBC) will return to action on Saturday, when the Jags face Florida Atlantic at FAU Arena at 6 p.m. (CT).  Live stats and video can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com.  With the win, Florida International improves to 11-3 (1-0 SBC). 

One of the key stats of the night was in the serve/receive department.  USA entered the match leading the Sun Belt in aces per set, but FIU dominated the category on Friday, recording nine service aces to USA’s one.  Natalia Valentin led the way for the Golden Panthers with four.

Offensively, Florida International was led by the duo of Yarimar Rosa and Isadora Rangel who finished the match with 12 and 11 kills, respectively.  South Alabama sophomore outside hitter Hristina Markova was the only Jag in double figures with 10.

SET ONE: Florida International 25, South Alabama 13

In the opening set of the match, Florida International used a huge run midway through the set to break things open.  Holding a two-point advantage at 11-9, the Golden Panthers reeled off nine of the next 10 points to jump out to a double digit lead (20-10).  Rosa and Sabrina Gonzalez led the FIU attack in the first set, each recording four kills.  Markova also carded four kills to pace South Alabama.  USA didn’t help its self in the opener, recording a .057 hitting percentage, .

SET TWO: Florida International 25, South Alabama 17

Like the first set, set number two was a tight affair early on as the two clubs had the set tied up seven times through the first 16 points.  With things all square at 8-8, FIU used another run to pull away from the Jags, this one an 8-2 spurt. Valentin capped off the run for the Golden Panthers with her third ace of the match to give Florida International a 16-10 lead.  Coming out of a time out, South Alabama began to battle back and chip away at the deficit, eventually cutting it to 17-15 after Lindsay Schwartz and Markova combined for a block assists.  That was as close as USA got in the set though, as the Golden Panthers went on to push their lead back out en route to the 25-17 victory.  Rosa again provided the offense for FIU, as the Sun Belt’s Preseason Player of the Year added five more kills in the set to her match total.  Schwartz and Markova paced the Jaguar offense with three kills each. 

SET THREE: Florida International 27, South Alabama 25

In what proved to be the most contested set of the match, Florida International looked as if it were going to take control of the set when it broke a 19-19 tie with three straight points late, but South Alabama continued to fight and eventually grabbed a one-point advantage (24-23) after another Markova kill.  USA could not capture the point it needed though and FIU eventually outlasted the Jags en route to the 27-25 set three victory.

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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