Nicholls Invitational Tournament Notes

THIBODAUX, La. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team will begin a three-week road swing this weekend when the Jags travel to compete at the Nicholls Invitational hosted by Nicholls State University at Stopher Gym.  USA will open up with the Colonels on Friday night at 7 p.m. and then take on Southern at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 2 p.m.

“Coming off this past weekend, I feel like we are a different team than we were during the first weekend of the season,” South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said.  “We’ve changed the line up a little bit and made things a little bit simpler.  I also think our players understand their roles a little bit more.  Hopefully by the start of the conference season, we will be in a good rhythm and hitting on all cylinders.  Plus by then we should have some of our injured players back.”

The Jags enter the tournament hosted by Nicholls State with a 2-5 record on the year.  This past weekend, South Alabama recorded a 2-2 mark at the Jaguar Classic - falling 3-1 to both UNC-Asheville and Alabama A&M, but picking up a pair of 3-0 wins against Southeastern Louisiana and Alabama State.

Offensively, USA is led by senior outside hitter Juliana Almeida.  Almeida leads the team and ranks second in the conference in kills with 3.91 per set.  She is also tied for eighth in the league in aces with nine.  On Monday, Almeida became the first Jag to earn player of the week honors from the SBC since the 2001 season.

In the defensive back court, USA’s Kari Frazier and Samia Salomao have been solid as the duo ranks fifth and ninth, respectively, in the Sun Belt entering play this week.  Frazier leads the club with 3.83 dps, while Salomao is close behind her with 3.65 dps.  As a team, the Jags rank second in the conference in that same category, averaging 15.78 digs per set. 

The Colonels (3-3) come into their home tournament this weekend after recording a 2-1 record at the Ragin’ Cajun Invitational.  At the ULL tournament, Nicholls State picked up wins over Houston Baptist and Jackson State, before falling to Louisiana-Lafayette in the championship match.  Nicholls will take on Southern on Tuesday night before hosting the tournament.

Sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Brandt paces the Colonels with 3.05 kills per set - fifth-best in the SLC.  Lauren Chapman and Jessica Addicks are also averaging over two kills a set for NSU.

Defensively, Danielle Daigle has posted solid numbers at the libero position.  She leads the SLC in digs with 5.73 and on Monday, Daigle was named the Defensive Player of the Week.  As a team, Nicholls leads the Southland in digs, averaging 16.68 per set.

Southern comes into action this week having played just two matches thus far this season.  The Jaguars dropped their season-opener to Alabama State on Friday, 3-0 (21-25, 13-25, 21-25).  SU also faced Clark Atlanta over the weekend, but results of that match are unknown. 

Against Alabama State, freshman outside hitter Amber Shelby led the Jaguars with nine kills, while Jaquincia Williams had eight.  Simone Beasley had 10 digs.

The Lions enter action this week with a 1-4 record.  Arkansas-Pine Bluff has already faced one opponent from the Sun Belt this season, falling 3-0 to Arkansas State during the first weekend of the season.  UAPB picked up its first win of the season this past weekend with a 3-2 victory at Texas Southern.

So far during the 2010 campaign, the Lions have struggled offensively as they are hitting just .053 and averaging just 7.1 kills per set.  Freshman outside hitter Britta Wilmers leads the club with 2.18 kills per set. 

Junior defensive specialist Lorin Johnson is averaging a team-best 4.12 digs per set, which is among the SWAC leaders in that category.  UAPB ranks third as a team in digs the league with 14.52 per set, entering play this week.

NOTES: South Alabama and Nicholls State have met 29 times in the all-time series between the two programs.  USA holds a 17-12 advantage in the series, but the Colonels captured the first meeting of the season, defeating the Jags 3-0 at the Southern Miss Invitational. Against current members of the Southland Conference, South Alabama holds an all-time record of 52-50.  USA has faced two Southland opponents this season - Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana. South Alabama and Southern have met 10 previous times with USA taking nine of those meetings.  The Jags also hold a perfect 2-0 mark against Arkansas-Pine Bluff - both meetings coming last season.  South Alabama holds a 49-8 all-time record against current Southwestern Athletic Conference members and was a perfect 4-0 against the league last season. USA faced two SWAC opponents this past weekend - falling 3-1 to Alabama A&M and defeating Alabama State, 3-0.