MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team dropped its second-straight Sun Belt Conference match Sunday afternoon when the Jags fell 3-0 (15-25, 15-25, 17-25) to Florida International at Jag Gym.

“Florida International is by far the strongest offensive team in our conference and might be the strongest that we have seen so far this season,” South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said.  “They just have so many weapons.  I feel that we played better in some areas today than we did on Friday night, but it’s not enough against a team like FIU.  We now just have to get ready to play Troy tomorrow.”

USA (9-6, 0-2 SBC) will continue league play Monday evening when the Jags travel to take on in-state rival Troy at 7 p.m.  Live stats and the web cast for the match between the Jags and the Trojans can be accessed at www.usajaugars.com.

The Golden Panthers improve to 12-2 on the season and 2-0 in the SBC with the win.

SBC Preseason Player of the Year Yarimar Rosa led all players with 15 kills, while Olga Vergun also added nine of her own.  FIU held a huge advantage in the dig category, out-digging South Alabama 34-19.

South Alabama was paced offensively by Juliana Almeida and Lindsay Schwartz, who each recorded eight kills in the match. 

SET ONE: Florida International 25, South Alabama 15

South Alabama grabbed the first point of the match after a FIU attack error, but the Golden Panthers pushed across five-straight points to take the lead.  Rosa and Vergun each recorded a pair of kills during the run for Florida International.  USA was able to get as close as two on a couple of occasions over the next few points, but the Jags could not get any closer.  FIU held the momentum the rest of the set and Rosa gave the Golden Panthers the 25-15 victory when the senior slammed home her sixth kill of the opening set.

Florida International came out offensively, posting a .389 attack percentage.

SET TWO: Florida International 25, South Alabama 15

In the second set, FIU got off to another quick start, recording seven of the first 10 points of the frame.   USA hung around early in the set and eventually tied the contest back up at 7-7 after a Golden Panther miscue.  With the set still tied four points later at 9-9, Hristina Markova blasted a kill and gave the Jags their first lead since recording the first point of the match.  Tereza Bendlova followed the Markova put away and increased South Alabama’s advantage to two (11-9) with a kill of her own, but FIU answered right back with an 8-0 run and took a 17-11 lead on another kill by Rosa – her fifth of the run.

The Golden Panthers did not relinquish the momentum and went up 2-0 in the match with the 25-15 win.

SET THREE: Florida International 25, South Alabama 17

Coming out of the intermission, South Alabama took the early advantage in the third set, opening up with a 5-1 run.  FIU though battled back and with USA holding a 10-8 lead after an Olivia Mohler kill, reeled off four unanswered points to take the lead for good.  The Jags kept the deficit at three over the next few points, but after another kill from Vergun, the Golden Panthers stretched their lead out to 20-14.

Rosa later sealed both the 25-17 victory with her 15th kill of the day.  In the final set, FIU recorded its best attack percentage, hitting .474, compared to USA’s .185.

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: Against Florida International, USA - which entered the weekend leading the Sun Belt in service aces – was held to a season-low one ace.  For the weekend, the Jags also recorded just four total in their two matches.   For the second-straight match, South Alabama’s opponent held a huge advantage in the dig category, out-digging USA 34-19.  On Friday, FAU held a 57-36 advantage in that category.  The 27 kills by South Alabama against FIU were also a season-low.