North Texas - Denver Match Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team will close out its current three-match homestand this weekend with a pair of Sun Belt Conference matches.  The Jags will take on North Texas on Friday evening before facing Denver on Saturday.  First serve for both matches is set for 7 p.m., and live stats will be available at www.usajaguars.com.  

The Jaguars come into play this weekend with a 7-12 overall mark and a 2-5 record in the Sun Belt, looking to end a five-match losing streak - their longest such streak of the season.  USA began league play with a pair of victories on the opening weekend of conference action, but has since fallen at Arkansas State, at UALR, at Middle Tennessee, at Western Kentucky and to Troy last Thursday.

Against the Trojans, South Alabama had its chances, but committed too many miscues, finishing the match with 28 attack errors.  The Jags - who have been one of the top serving teams in the conference for most of the season - also committed eight serving errors and had just three aces.  

“This week, we have to really be focused on just doing what we need to do to be successful,” South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said.  “Not to take anything away from Troy in our last match, because they played very well, but we just had too many unforced errors.  This week in preparing for North Texas and Denver – two teams that have played great at times – we have to figure out what we need to do to get back on track.  That’s going to be our main focus.”

During the current five-match skid, the serve/receive game has been a problem area for USA.  Opponents hold a 22-13 advantage in aces during that stretch and South Alabama has recorded 39 serving errors.  Through the first 14 matches, the Jags held a 79-54 advantage in that department over their opponents.

Despite the recent struggles from behind the service line, USA still ranks fourth in the SBC in aces with 1.35 per set.  Individually, Samia Salomao is tied with Denver’s Julia Cawthra for fifth, while Kananen is in seventh with (0.31) in the Sun Belt in that category.

On offense, South Alabama features a balanced attack as four players are averaging 2.15 kills per set or better.  Leading the way is Salomao with 2.58 kps, followed by Melissa Waelter (2.39), Olivia Mohler (2.38) and Maureen Ros (2.15).  Ros has led the club in kills in seven matches, while Salomao has recorded a team-best seven double-doubles.

Sophomore libero Jenna Hassell ranks seventh in the conference with 3.68 digs per set.

North Texas enters play sits just under .500 on the season with a 12-13 overall mark.  The Mean Green is also 3-6 in Sun Belt action.  Last week, UNT had one of its busiest weeks of the season, competing in four matches.  North Texas began the week with a 3-1 victory over Denver, but then fell 3-0 at Baylor.  Over the weekend, UNT split a pair of five-set matches, defeating Louisiana-Monroe but falling to Louisiana-Lafayette.

The Mean Green is led offensively by the outside hitter duo of Shelley Morton and Eboni Godfrey.  Morton - a senior - leads the club with 3.06 kills per set, while Morton is right behind her with 3.05 per set.  Morton has posted a double-double in seven of UNT’s nine Sun Belt matches this season.  

As a team, North Texas ranks fourth in the league in both kills (12.77) and digs (14.55).  UNT has raised the latter category to third with 15.08 per set in league play.  Defensively, senior defensive specialist Sarah Wiley anchors the backcourt. Wiley ranks sixth in the SBC in digs with 4.13 per set.  

Like the Jags, North Texas has struggled at the net this season, ranking 12th out of 12 teams in blocks.  UNT is averaging just 1.17 per set.

Denver comes into action this week fresh off a sweep of Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe this past weekend.  DU defeated both of the Louisiana schools in straight sets.

Since beginning the season with just two wins in their first 11 matches, the Pioneers have bounced back to seven of their last 10.  DU currently sits at 9-12 overall and in second place in the West Division at 6-3 in the Sun Belt.  Denver began its hot streak with a thrilling 3-1 victory over then-19th ranked Colorado State.  

Junior middle blocker Faimie Kingsley has had an outstanding season thus far in 2011.  The Brooklyn, N.Y. native not only leads the club offensively, but her 2.18 kills per set rank sixth-best in the Sun Belt.  She also ranks third in the league in attack percentage, hitting a blistering .358.  Not only has she been one of the top offensive performers in the conference, but at the net as her 1.51 blocks per set top the league - eighth nationally - and are 0.38 better than second place.

On Monday, Kingsley picked up her third Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week honor.  In DU’s three matches, Kingsley posted 48 kills on 70 attempts for a .600 hitting percentage, while also finishing with 16 blocks for a 1.60 blocks per set average.

Junior libero Lyndi Johnson also ranks among the conference leaders in digs with 4.33 per set.  

As a team, the Pioneers are first in the SBC in blocks (2.57) and second in opponent’s hitting percentage (.160).

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: The Jags are in the midst of a stretch in which seven of their final 10 matches of the season are at home.   The matches versus North Texas and Denver are numbers two and three of those seven home contests.  The meeting between North Texas and South Alabama this weekend will mark the 20th in the all-time series between the two clubs.  UNT holds a 14-5 advantage in the all-time series, and since 2002, has won 11 of the last 13 meetings.  The Jags are 2-6 versus the Mean Green in matches played in Mobile.  Last season, North Texas defeated the Jags 3-1 in Denton.  The meeting between Denver and South Alabama this weekend will mark the 20th in the all-time series between the two clubs.  Denver holds a dominant 18-1 advantage in the all-time series, and has won the last 16 meetings.  The Jags are also 1-8 versus the Trojans in matches played in Mobile.  Last season, Denver picked up a 3-0 victory over USA in the “Mile High City”.  The match versus the Jags on Saturday will also mark the final trip to Mobile for the Pioneers as a member of the Sun Belt Conference as they are scheduled to head to the Western Athletic Conference next season.

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