BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The University of South Alabama volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (16-25, 11-25, 12-25) Sun Belt Conference decision to Western Kentucky Saturday night at E.A. Diddle Arena in its final road match of the season.

"We came out really flat tonight and just couldn't get any runs going," South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said.  "There are some technical things that we have to work on to get ready for our upcoming matches."

South Alabama falls to 11-16 on the season and 2-12 in SBC action with the loss.  The Jags will now return home for the first of three-straight home matches when they host Troy on Friday (Nov. 6) at 7 p.m.

Offensively, Hristina Markova, Lindsay Schwartz and Tereza Bendlova each had five kills in the loss for USA. 

WKU (21-7, 10-3 SBC) was led on the offensive side of the net by Jordyn Skinner's 12 kills.  Brittany Bowen also added 10 for the Lady Toppers. 

Western Kentucky was on fire offensively, hitting a .449 in the win - 42 kills, 78 attempts and committing just seven attack errors.    The hitting percentage by the Toppers was the highest surrendered by the Jags this season to an opponent, eclipsing Duke's .419 back on Sept. 5 at the Georgia Dawg Invitational

For the first time this season, USA also failed to record a block against the Toppers.  Western Kentucky ended the night with 11 block assists.

SET ONE: Western Kentucky 25, South Alabama 16

In the opener, Western Kentucky took control early jumping out to a quick 9-3 advantage. USA was able to get as close as three (9-6) after an ace from Markova, but the Jags were unable to draw any closer the rest of the way.  WKU's Emily Teegarden sealed the 25-16 first-set victory with one of her four kills in the match.

SET TWO: Western Kentucky 25, South Alabama 11

The Lady Toppers again got off to a quick start in the second set, beginning with a 16-4 run.  Skinner and Elmore combined six kills during the Western Kentucky run.  WKU went on to take the set 25-11 and go up 2-0 in the match. 

The Hilltoppers recorded their best offensive output of the match in the second frame, posting 17 kills on 27 attempts, while committing three errors for a .519 attack percentage.

SET THREE: Western Kentucky 25, South Alabama 12

In the final set, WKU once again grabbed the momentum right out of the gate as they took seven of the first 10 points.  USA was able to keep the deficit at around the three-point range over the next several points.  With Western Kentucky holding a 13-10 advantage, the Toppers reeled off five unanswered points to stretch their lead out to eight.  Skinner clinched the sweep and gave WKU the 25-12 win with another put away.

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).

-- USA --