MOBILE, Ala. - The University of South Alabama volleyball team dropped its Sun Belt Conference opener Friday evening falling in straight-sets (22-25, 20-25, 24-26) to Florida Atlantic at Jag Gym.
"We didn't really come out mentally ready to play tonight," South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said. "Volleyball is 99 percent mental and we just weren't prepared. We now have to bounce back and get ready for FIU on Sunday. FIU is a tough team that is playing well right now. For us to be successful, we will have to be ready both mentally and physically."
The Jags (9-5, 0-1 SBC) will next take on preseason favorite Florida International on Sunday at 11 a.m. FAU improves to 3-7 and 2-0 in the league with the win.
Hristina Markova led South Alabama with 12 kills on the night, while Juliana Almeida and Lindsay Schwartz each chipped in with 11 kills apiece. Almeida also posted a team-high 12 digs to give the junior outside hitter her seventh double-double of the season.
The Owls were led offensively by Kristyna Dzmuranova's 15 kills and Krystena Castro's 12 kills. FAU also placed three players in double figures in digs paced by Cintia Nightingale's match-high 16. The dig category was the key stat of the match, where FAU out-dug USA 57-36.
SET ONE: Florida Atlantic 25, South Alabama 22
After Florida Atlantic jumped out to an early two-point advantage in the opening set, South Alabama reeled off five-straight points and took a 7-4 lead on an Almeida kill. USA later stretched its lead out to five at 11-6 after an ace from Almeida. With the Jags still leading by five (15-10), the Owls out-scored the Jags 6-1 over the next seven points and tied the contest up at 16-all. Florida Atlantic re-took the lead five points later at 20-18, but the Jags knotted things after a kill from Markova and a block assist from Schwartz and Allegra Pratt.
With things still tied at 22, Florida Atlantic pushed across the final three points and took the first set 25-22 after a Jaguar attack error.
SET TWO: Florida Atlantic 25, South Alabama 20
South Alabama got off to a fast start in the second set, opening the frame with five unanswered points, but as they did in the first set, Florida Atlantic battled back. With USA holding a two-point lead at 12-10, FAU reeled off four-straight points and took a 14-12 lead after a Sarah Stoll put away.
The Jags retook the lead at 17-16 after a block assist from Schwartz and Almeida, but the Owls answered with eight-straight points of their own to take the lead for good in the set. Castro led the charge for Florida Atlantic during the run with four kills and a block assist.
FAU went on to take the 25-20 set-two victory and go up 2-0 in the match.
SET THREE: Florida Atlantic 26, South Alabama 24
The third set was close throughout with neither team able to gain more than a three point advantage on the other. South Alabama set at set-point (24-22) after kills from Markova and Tereza Bendlova, but FAU responded with the final four points of the set to pick up the 26-24 victory and take the match. Dzmuranova rattled off three-straight kills to start the run and Ivana Stanojevic and Stoll clinched the win when the duo combined for a block assist of a Jaguar attack.
FAU was very efficient offensively in the finale, posting 18 kills on 38 attempts, while committing just one attack error for a .447 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).
NOTES: With her 11 kills and 12 digs, junior outside hitter Juliana Almeida recorded her seventh double-double of the season and 14th of her career. The loss snapped South Alabama's five-match win streak and also dropped USA to 0-7 in its last seven SBC home-openers.
-- USA --
