Box Score - Western Kentucky 3, South Alabama 0

MOBILE, Ala. – Junior outside hitter Samia Salomao tied a career-high with 15 kills on Friday night, but it wasn’t enough as the University of South Alabama volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (19-25, 17-25, 16-25) decision to Western Kentucky at Jaguar Gym. 

“In the first half of sets one and two, we really put some pressure on (Western Kentucky) to send some easy balls back to us and we didn’t take care of them when we got them,” South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said.  “Western Kentucky is going to get its kills.  They have some nice hitters, but when we were able to put pressure on them to send back a roll shot, we just couldn’t use those.  Against a team like Western Kentucky, you have to take advantage of those opportunities.”

USA (8-12, 3-2 SBC) will next take on Sun Belt East Division leader Middle Tennessee on Sunday.  First serve versus the Blue Raiders is set for noon.  With the win, Western Kentucky improves to 16-5 on the season and 5-1 in league play. 

Salomao led all players with her 15 kills and also recorded a team-high eight digs in the loss.

WKU used a balanced attack as five players finished the match with at least five kills.  Emily Teegarden posted a team-best nine kills in the win, while Jordyn Skinner chipped in with eight and Melanie Stutsman added seven.  Skinner also ended the night with a match-high 15 digs.

SET ONE: Western Kentucky 25, South Alabama 19

Western Kentucky built as much as an eight-point advantage (12-4) early in the opening set, but South Alabama clawed its way back and eventually closed the gap to one.  Torlandria Jones ignited the 9-2 run for the Jags over the next 11 points with a kill and Jillian Jordan later capped off the rally with a put away of her own to pull USA to within one at 13-12.

The two clubs exchanged the next two points, but the Toppers took control when they reeled off six-straight points to stretch their lead out to 21-14.  USA got as close as four on a couple of occasions the rest of the way, but Western Kentucky held on to pick up the 25-19.

As was the formula for most of the night, WKU used a balanced attack during the first set as five Hilltoppers had at least three kills, led by four apiece from Teegarden and Stutsman.  As a team, WKU came out on fire posting a .432 attack percentage.  Salomao paced USA offensively with five first-set kills.

SET TWO: Western Kentucky 25, South Alabama 17

In the second set, WKU led by three early on, but like in the opening set, South Alabama battled back and reclaimed the lead after a kill from Salomao to put the Jags up 10-9.  With USA holding a 12-11 advantage, the Hilltoppers quickly took back the momentum with a run of five-consecutive points.  Kelly Potts gave WKU the 16-12 lead with her second ace of the frame.  From there on, the Toppers didn’t allow USA to get any closer as they went on to go up 2-0 in the match with the 25-17 second-set victory.

WKU continued its strong offensive performance, posting a .303 attack percentage in the set.  Skinner led Western Kentucky with five kills in the frame, while Salomao added to her tally with five more.

SET THREE: Western Kentucky 25, South Alabama 16

The Jags came out of the intermission and began the third set on fire, rattling off the first six points of the frame.  Salomao kept USA out in front for the first half of the set, leading the way with five kills and an ace over USA’s first seven points. Following a Hilltopper time out after the six-point burst, WKU began to chip away at the Jaguar lead. 

With the Jags holding an 11-7 lead, Teegarden ignited a pivotal run of six unanswered points with another kill.  Stutsman and Lindsay Williams capped off the run for the Toppers when the duo teamed up to turn back a Jaguar attack that gave WKU a 13-11 advantage.

Western Kentucky never allowed USA to regain control for the remainder of the match, as the Toppers picked up eight of the final nine points to seal the victory with the 25-16 win.

USA didn’t help itself in the final frame, as the Jags committed 15 attack errors after only recording a combined eight through the first two sets.

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).