MOBILE, Ala. - The University of South Alabama volleyball team dropped a 3-1 (17-25, 28-26, 10-25, 13-25) decision to regional rival Southern Miss Friday evening in the opening round of the Jaguar Classic at Jag Gym.

"I was very disappointed with the way we played tonight," South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said.  "We were able to get the momentum in set number two, but after that just came out and didn't do anything with it.  I think that our nerves got the best of us."

USM (8-1) was led offensively by Ashley Mell's 15 kills and .324 attack percentage.  Lauren Sears also ended the night in double figures, finishing with 11 kills of her own.

With the loss, South Alabama drops to 4-4 on the season.  Juliana Almeida chipped in nine kills and 10 digs in the loss. 

USA will continue tournament action on Saturday with a pair of matches.  The Jags will face Nicholls State at 1 p.m. and then conclude the tournament against Jackson State at 7 p.m.

"The good thing about tournament play is that you get to come back the next day and try to correct things," Keshock said.  "Nicholls State will be a tough match for us, but hopefully we will be able to redeem ourselves and play better."

In what was a key stat on the night, Southern Miss out hit the Jags .297 to .083 and recorded 61 kills, compared to South Alabama's 33.

SET ONE: Southern Miss 25, South Alabama 17

With Southern Miss holding a one-point advantage early on (8-7) in the first set, USM's Sears rattled off four-straight points for the Golden Eagles.  The sophomore started the scoring spurt with back-to-back-to-back kills and then combined with Amelia Hendrickson to block a Jaguar attack and take a 12-7 lead.  Later in the set, Southern Miss grabbed its largest lead at 23-15 on a kill from Hendrickson. 

Sears and Mell provided the offense for the Golden Eagles in the opening frame, combining for 10 of USM's 15 kills in the set.  Southern Miss came out firing, recording a blistering .379 attack percentage.

SET TWO: South Alabama 28, Southern Miss 26

The second set was close throughout with neither team able to garner more than a two-point advantage.  Hristina Markova broke the 20th tie of the set (26-26) and gave the Jags the lead for good when the junior outside hitter slammed home a kill.  Jennica Hagberg and Lindsay Schwartz then sealed the 28-26 victory when the Jag duo combined to block an attack by Mell (USM).

The block assist by Schwartz was the fourth of the set for the Watertown, Wis., native.

SET THREE: Southern Miss 25, South Alabama 10

Coming out of the intermission, Southern Miss regained the momentum and opened the third set with a 10-3 run.  After beginning the frame with the big run, the Golden Eagles did not relinquish control the rest of the set en route to the 25-10 victory.

The key stat of the set was in the attack percentage category, where USM out hit the Jags .353 to -.067. 

SET FOUR: Southern Miss 25, South Alabama 13

Holding a 2-1 lead in the match and a one-point advantage at 10-9, the Golden Eagles took control of the fourth set with a string of five unanswered points.  South Alabama had no answer the rest of the way as Southern Miss went on to take the match and pick up the 25-13 set win. 

In the finale, USM recorded its best offensive production of the night, finishing with a .516 hitting percentage (20 kills, 31 attacks and 4 errors).

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).

NOTES: In the opening match of the tournament, Nicholls State defeated Jackson State, 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-18).

-- USA --