Match Notes: Louisiana-Monroe and Louisiana-Lafayette

MONROE, La. – The University of South Alabama volleyball will open up Sun Belt Conference action this weekend with a pair of matches on the road.  USA will take on Louisiana-Monroe on Friday at 2 p.m. at Fant-Ewing Coliseum and then head to Lafayette. La., to face Louisiana-Lafayette on Sunday at Earl K. Long Gym at 1 p.m.

Live stats for both matches can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com.

The Jags come into their conference opener after finishing the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 5-10 record.  The matches versus ULM and ULL will also conclude a stretch of 10-straight road contests for USA.  The current road trip has been tough for South Alabama, as the Jags are 3-5 in the eight matches.

“This past weekend, we played some close matches against some quality competition that should help us as we enter league play,” South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said.  “We have all the tools to be successful.  We just have to make sure we come prepared to play each time we step on the court, especially this weekend as we open our Sun Belt schedule.”

One player who has been playing well as of late for USA has been outside hitter Samia Salomao.  Over the last seven matches, Salomao has recorded five double-doubles - including three over the weekend at the Springhill Suites Invitational.  The Jag junior is averaging 2.68 kills per set and 3.60 digs - tops on the club.  Juliana Almeida continues to pace the club offensively with her 3.17 kps ranking among the league leaders.

On the defensive side of the net, South Alabama ranks second in the Sun Belt with 16.3 digs per set.  Along with Salomao, Jenna Hassell (3.21) and Kari Frazier (3.17) anchor the back court for the Jags.  Entering action this weekend, Hassell has posted three-straight 20-dig performances, including a career-best 26 against Charleston Southern on Saturday.  Hassell also leads the team with 14 aces.

The Warhawks come into the start of SBC play still in search of their first win in 2010.  This past weekend, ULM dropped all three of its matches at the Kent State Mizuno Open, 3-0.  The match versus the Jags on Friday will be the home opener for the Warhawks.

Louisiana-Monroe enters the start of league play looking to snap a 65-match conference skid - including a stretch in which it has last in straight-sets in each of its last 10 SBC matches.  The Warhawks’ last Sun Belt victory came back on Oct. 9, 2006 against Louisiana-Lafayette.  During its four years in the Sun Belt, ULM has recorded just a 2-70 mark.

Offensively, the Warhawks are paced by Bianca Ocana’s 2.97 kills per set.  Senior outside hitter Stephanie Wardach is close behind her with 2.47 kps.  On the defensive side, senior libero Christy Tribble is second in the Sun Belt with 5.12 digs per set.

Louisiana-Lafayette (8-6) enters the weekend after snapping a five match skid over the weekend with a 3-0 win over McNeese State at the Lamar Tournament.

As a team, the Ragin’ Cajuns lead the Sun Belt Conference in opponent’s hitting percentage (.149), service aces (1.71) and digs (16.67).  ULL has three players tied for third individually in aces, while senior libero Lindsay Brown tops the league with 5.51 dps.  On Monday, Brown was named the SBC Defensive Player of the Week for her play at the Lamar tourney.  She is just 29 digs away from becoming the program’s all-time leader in that category.

Through the non-conference portion of its schedule, Louisiana-Lafayette has used a balanced offensive attack, as four players are averaging two kills or better.  Leading the way for the Cajuns in that category is Lesley Mirarchi with 3.11 kills per set - eighth in the SBC.  Mirarchi also leads the club with 47 total blocks

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: Louisiana-Monroe holds a 5-4 advantage in the all-time series, but USA has won the last three meetings…Louisiana-Lafayette leads the all-time series against South Alabama with an all-time mark of 31-9…USA has dropped 10-straight to the Ragin’ Cajuns in Lafayette…The last Jag road win in the series came during the 1994 season… Sun Belt Conference openers have not been kind to the Jags throughout the past several years as USA has lost all eight of its league openers under head coach Nicole Keshock…The last league road- or SBC-opener that the Jags won was back during the 2001 season when USA picked up a 3-1 win at New Orleans.  Dating back to the 1991 season - the first year that the Sun Belt started doing regular-season conference play - South Alabama holds a 2-16 in road-openers.  (Note: There were no regular-season road meetings during the 1991 season.  The SBC played a four-match regular-season tournament in Mobile, Ala.).