Box Score - Florida Atlantic 3, South Alabama 0

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team fell 3-0 (21-25, 21-25, 18-25) Sunday afternoon to Sun Belt East Division rival Florida Atlantic at Jag Gym.

“It’s all about consistency,” South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said.  “Being able to count on players each and every match and being able to learn how to play at a certain level each and every match.  There are too many peaks and valleys right now in our performance.  When that happens in volleyball, teams go on runs.  When we are in a valley, they are going to score five or six points on us and we have to find a way to fight through that.  We have another match on Tuesday that will be our fifth match in eight days and we have to find a way to bring it back now.”

USA (9-17, 4-7 SBC) will next host in-state rival Troy on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in its final home match of the season.  Prior to first serve, the Jags will honor their four seniors – Juliana Almeida, Kari Frazier, Jillian Jordan and Jaclyn Nickels.

Almeida led all players with 13 kills and recorded a .458 attack percentage for South Alabama.  Jenna Hassell led USA with 16 digs.

Florida Atlantic improves to 12-15 on the season and 3-8 in the conference with the win.  The Owls were led offensively by Georgia Robinson and Anne Vaughan’s 11 kills apiece.  Cintia Nightingale recorded a match-high 19 digs. 

SET ONE: Florida Atlantic 25, South Alabama 21

With South Alabama leading by one just three points into the match, the Owls took control quickly with a 10-1 run over the next 11 points.  Darija Sataric recorded three kills during the FAU run, while Vaughan added two kills and Ashton Krajewski had a pair of aces.  USA came right back though with a big run of its own, this one an 11-2 spurt.  Samia Salomao led the rally as the junior outside hitter posted two kills and a pair of aces, her last ace giving USA a 14-13 advantage.

Later in the opening set with the Jags holding a 17-16 lead, Florida Atlantic took the lead for good when the Owls pushed across four-straight points.  South Alabama narrowed the deficit to one on a couple of occasions, the last coming at 22-21 after an Almeida put away, but FAU rattled off the final three points of the frame to take the early lead in the match with the 25-21 first-set victory. 

SET TWO: Florida Atlantic 25, South Alabama 21

In the second set, South Alabama turned to three of its freshmen – Torlandria Jones, Jessica Lewis and Katariina Kananen – to jump out to a 13-5 lead.  The trio was responsible for seven of USA’s first 13 points.  FAU came right back and tied the set up at 13-13 with an 8-1 run that was capped off by a block assists from Kristyna Dzmuranova and Robinson. 

Later in the set, with FAU sitting one point away from taking the set, Lewis tried to ignite a run for the Jags with a pair of kills, but on the next point, the Owls captured the set, 25-21, after a Jaguar serving error.

SET THREE: Florida Atlantic 25, South Alabama 18

Leading 2-0 in the match coming out of the intermission, the Owls grabbed the momentum right out of the gate, jumping out to a 9-3 lead.  The Jags tried to battle back and cut the deficit to four (11-7) after kills from Jones and Lewis, but Florida Atlantic didn’t allow USA to get any closer as the Owls went on to clinch the match with the 25-18 victory.

In the final set, Florida Atlantic had its best offensive frame of the match, recording 13 kills on 21 attacks, while committing just two errors for a .524 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).