Box Score - Charleston Southern 3, South Alabama 2

STATESBORO, Ga. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team fought hard but dropped a heartbreaking five-set decision Saturday afternoon as the Jags fell 3-2 (25-21, 12-25, 25-19, 21-25, 11-15)  at the Springhill Suites Invitational held at Hanner Fieldhouse.

“We had a better effort today than yesterday, but we just didn’t weren’t able to finish,” South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said.  “The sets today seemed to come down to the last four points, but we just couldn’t get the side out we needed or stop (Amanda Hill).  One positive that we can take away from the weekend as we head into conference play was that we were able to compete against some quality teams in Georgia Southern and Charleston Southern.  We need to work week on finishing and fine tune some things as we head into conference play.”

USA (5-10) will now gear up to begin Sun Belt Conference play next weekend when the Jags travel to take on Louisiana-Monroe on Friday at 2 p.m. and Louisiana-Lafayette on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Jags were led offensively by Samia Salomao’s double-double performance – 13 kills and 15 digs.  The double-double was the junior’s third of the tournament and seventh of the season.  Jillian Jordan and Olivia Mohler also chipped in with 12 kills apiece – a new career-best for both players.  Freshman libero Jenna Hassell continued her strong tournament play, recording her third 20-plus dig performance with a team-high 26 digs.

Charleston Southern (5-7) was led by Amanda Hill’s 24 kills.  Hill also added 13 digs.  Cori Holeman also ended the match in double-digits in kills with 13.

SET ONE: South Alabama 25, Charleston Southern 21

Neither team was able to grab the early momentum at the start of the first set, but tied at 7-7, South Alabama’s Jordan kill ignited a 6-1 run for the Jags when the Vancleave, Miss., native blasted home her first kill of the match.  Jennica Hagberg later capped off the scoring and put USA up 13-8 with an ace.

Charleston Southern the scoring run and picked up four of the next five points to cut the deficit to two.  Hill trimmed USA’s lead to 14-12 with one of her three kills in the opening set.  Coming out of a time out following the kill from Hill, the Jags stretched their lead back out to five (20-15), but the Buccaneers battled back and tied the contest back up at 21-21 after a kill and an ace from Kayla Klinger.

Seeing their lead evaporate, South Alabama quickly regained control of the set coming out of its second called time out.  Torlandria Jones this time had the answer for the Jags as the freshman middle blocker put USA back out in front with a kill and then on the next point combined with Lea Thurm for a block of a CSU attack.  USA picked up the final two points of the set and took the early lead in the match with the 25-21 win.

SET TWO: Charleston Southern 25, South Alabama 12

In the second set, Charleston Southern took advantage of several Jag miscues and jumped out to a quick 11-2 advantage.  During the Buccaneer run, USA hurt itself, committing four attack errors and three bad sets.  Hill, who entered the tournament ranked third nationally in kills, also aided the CSU run with three more kills.  The senior outside hitter for the Bucs finished with eight in the second set.

The Jags could only get as close as eight for the remainder of the set, as the Buccaneers evened the match at one set apiece with the 25-12 victory.

SET THREE: South Alabama 25, Charleston Southern 19

After surrendering the first two points of the third set, South Alabama answered right back by picking up 13 of the next 16 points to take control of the frame.  Jordan and Salomao highlighted the Jaguar run as Jordan had a kill and two block assists, while Salomao had a kill of her own and an ace.   Hassell capped off the run and put South Alabama up 13-5 when the freshman posted back-to-back service aces.  CSU was able to narrow the Jag lead to five late in the set, but Salomao sealed the 25-19 set win with her 10th kill of the match.

SET FOUR: Charleston Southern 25, South Alabama 21

Tied at 6-6, Charleston Southern looked as if it had broken the frame open with a 13-4 run to take a nine point lead, but South Alabama rallied back and reeled off 10 of the next 12 points to trim the Buccaneer advantage to just one.  Salomao cut the CSU lead to 21-20 when the junior recorded her second ace of the afternoon.  That was as close as the Jags would get the rest of the set as Charleston Southern pushed across four of the final five points to even the match and pick up the 25-21 win.

SET FIVE: Charleston Southern 15, South Alabama 11

The fifth and final set was close for much of the way, but with the score tied 9-9 after a Maggie Murphy kill, the Bucs closed strong with a 6-2 run.  Amberle Trinder clinched the 15-11 victory for CSU with her sixth kill.  Down the stretch, Hill came up huge for Charleston Southern accounting for three of its final six points, posting two kills and a block assists.

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).