Box Score - Florida International 3, South Alabama 0

MOBILE, Ala. – Attack errors proved costly for the University of South Alabama volleyball team Friday evening as the Jaguars dropped a 3-0 (22-25, 21-25, 17-25) to Florida International at Jag Gym.  In the loss, USA committed 26 attack errors, while FIU had just 13.

“Tonight was disappointing, because last week we struggled on the Friday night match, but rebounded somewhat,” South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said.  “Our consistency has left us though.  Just being able to play with intensity and focus day in and day out, regardless of what the result is at the end of the match.  We are like two different teams right now and we just need to regroup and get our focus back.”

USA (9-16, 4-6 SBC) will continue its three-match home stand on Sunday when it welcomes Florida Atlantic to Jag Gym with first serve set for noon.  

Juliana Almeida and Samia Salomao led the Jags with eight kills apiece, while Torlandria Jones chipped in with seven.  Freshman libero Jenna Hassell led all players with 25 digs.

The Golden Panthers (12-10, 6-4 SBC) were paced offensively by Andrea Lakovic’s nine kills and Una Trkulja’s eight put aways.  

SET ONE: Florida International 25, South Alabama 22

The Jags held momentum early on leading by as much as two on several occasions in the opening set, but the visiting Golden Panthers tied the contest back up at 10-10 after a block assists from Sabrina Gonzalez and Trkulja.  FIU then took its first lead of the match on the next point on a Jaguar attack error.  Florida International stretched its lead out to as much as four.  With the Golden Panthers holding a 23-20 advantage, Jaclyn Nickels and Salomao narrowed the South Alabama deficit to 23-22 after the duo posted a kill each, but coming out of a time out, Florida International picked up the final two points to take the first set, 25-22.

SET TWO: Florida International 25, South Alabama 21

Like the first set, South Alabama held the momentum during the first part of the second set, but leading 9-4 after a kill from Jonesl, FIU took advantage of several Jaguar miscues and reeled off eight unanswered points.  Of the Golden Panthers’ eight points during the run, seven came courtesy of a USA error, including five attack errors.  Following another kill from Jones that ended the Florida International run, South Alabama began to claw its way back, tying the contest back up three times and retaking the lead at 21-20 after a pair of FIU miscues.  

Coming out of a time out though, the Golden Panthers answered right back and closed the set with the final five points to take 25-21 second-set victory.  Lakovic sealed the four-point win when she posted back-to-back kills.

SET THREE: Florida International 25, South Alabama 17

In the final set, Florida International wasted little time taking control of the frame as the Golden Panthers opened up with an 8-2 run.  South Alabama narrowed the deficit to two (10-8) following a kill from Almeida, but that was as close as USA would get the rest of the night.  FIU quickly regained control from there and went on to capture the 25-17 win.

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 the win, Florida International improves its record to 19-4-1 in the all-time series and has now won 17 of the last 18 meetings, including 11-straight.