Box Score - South Alabama 3, Troy 0

MOBILE, Ala. – On “Senior Night” in front of one of its largest crowds of the season, the University of South Alabama volleyball team closed out the home portion of its 2010 schedule in grand fashion Tuesday evening as the Jaguars swept Troy in a key Sun Belt Conference match up at Jag Gym.  Prior to the match, USA honored its four seniors – Juliana Almeida, Jillian Jordan, Kari Frazier and Jaclyn Nickels – and the group came up big in their final home match, recording 19 of the Jags’ 38 kills, 12 digs and 13 block assists.

“I’m so proud of our seniors,” South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said of the group’s performance.  “We went with a little different rotation to give them an opportunity to play in front of their fans and they did a great job.  Jaclyn (Nickels) and Jillian (Jordan) did a great job in the middle.  We have worked on a lot of things with them in their block and they really came through in some crucial moments at the net.  Juliana (Almeida) started out a little slow in the first set, but she found a way to come back and carry us through to the end.  That’s what we expect out of our seniors and she did a great job.  Kari (Frazier) has always been a solid player for us and she just continued to do that tonight.”

USA (10-17, 5-7 SBC) will now head out on the road for four-straight matches, beginning with Middle Tennessee at 7 p.m. at Alumni Memorial Gym.  Troy drops to 10-19 on the season and 2-10 in the conference.

Offensively, South Alabama was paced by Samia Salomao and Almeida, who each had a match-high 12 kills.  Almeida also had five of the Jags’ 16 block assists in the win.  Jenna Hassell continued her stellar defensive play in the back court for USA as the freshman posted a match-best 20 digs. 

“Jenna and I talked a little bit yesterday about her being a little more aggressive,” Keshock said.  “I think that she is a great libero, but she has been hesitating just a little bit.  I just encouraged her to go for it.  We knew that she had it in her and I’m so happy to see that she brought that out tonight.  She’s just a freshman and I can’t wait to see what she is like down the road.”

Salomao also chipped in with 18 digs, as USA finished with 55 as a team.

Troy’s Natasha Kolunija had eight kills in the loss, while Courtney Cohen added 17 digs.

SET ONE: South Alabama 25, Troy 23

The Trojans took a quick three-point lead out of the gate in the opening set, but USA battled back and tied the contest back up at 7-7.  Over the remainder of the frame, the two clubs would keep things close as they exchanged the lead eight times and had the set tied on 16 occasions.

Tied 23-23, Olivia Mohler had a kill deflect off a Trojan defender and fall to the court to give USA the lead for good.  The Jaguar possession was kept alive on a one-handed diving dig from Hassell.  After a time out from Troy, the freshman libero sealed the 25-23 South Alabama victory with an ace.

Salomao was on fire for the Jags in the opening set, as the junior outside hitter recorded eight kills on 15 attacks and committed just two errors.

SET TWO: South Alabama 25, Troy 17

Riding the momentum of the first-set win, South Alabama held control early, reeling off the first four points of the set, two coming on a pair of aces from Salomao.  Salomao finished the match with a season-high four aces, tying her career mark.  USA eventually stretched its lead out to as much as seven (16-7) after a back-to-back kills from Almeida.  On both of the Jaguar points, the South Alabama rally was again kept alive by three more outstanding digs from Hassell.

Following the two Almeida kills, Troy began to chip away at the Jaguar lead and closed the gap to 17-15 after kills from Vicky Rogoschewsky and Devin Von Pingel, but that was as close as the Trojans would get as South Alabama came right back and closed the frame by taking eight of the final 10 points to take the set, 25-17.

SET THREE: South Alabama 25, Troy 18

Playing in their final home match of their career, Jordan and Almeida led a 10-4 Jaguar run to start the third set.  During the scoring run, the senior duo combined to record six of USA’s first 10 points.  Almeida’s kill ignited the run for the Jags and was the 1,100th of her career.  Jordan later capped off the scoring for South Alabama with a kill of her own. 

The Jags looked to be in complete control as they extended their lead out to 20-9, but Troy made it interesting down the stretch, getting as close as five (23-18).  USA though picked up the final two points though to complete the sweep, 25-18.

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).