Denver 3, South Alabama 1 (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. –University of South Alabama freshman volleyball player Amber Wyatt came off the bench and sparked the Jaguars with a career-high 13 kills, but Denver still managed to pick up a 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-13) Sun Belt Conference victory over USA Saturday night at Jag Gym.  

“I felt we had a better energy tonight than we did last night,” South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said.  “I was really proud of Amber coming off the bench and leading the team offensively.  As a team, we are just not consistent right now – within the match, match to match, player to player.  We had players who had great matches last night, struggle tonight. A lot of that is just youth.  I think as we get more and more experience, we will correct that area.”

With the loss, USA’s losing streak extends to seven as the Jaguars drop to 7-14 on the season and 2-7 in the SBC  South Alabama will now begin a three-match road swing on Friday when it heads to Florida Atlantic.  First serve versus the Owls is set for %:30 p.m. (CT).  

Wyatt’s 13 kills led the Jaguars, while fellow freshman Melissa Waelter had her third double-double of the season with 12 kills and 12 digs.  Maureen Ros chipped in with a career-best 17 digs.  

Denver (10-12, 7-3 SBC) was led offensively by Faimie Kingsly’s match-high 16 kills.  Brea Muhle added 12 kills of her own and Lyndi Johnson posted 26 digs.  

Against the best blocking team in the Sun Belt, USA did hold a 9.5 (0 BS, 19 BA) -7.0 (2 BS, 10 BA) advantage in the block department and a 60-51 advantage in digs.  Denver though did manage to hold a 9-1 margin in the serving area.

SET ONE: South Alabama 25, Denver 23

South Alabama was the first to take the early advantage in the opening set.  Tied at 3-3, USA was able to rattle off four off five of the next six points and take a 8-4 lead after a kill from Olivia Mohler.  During the Jaguar scoring spurt, the junior middle blocker recorded three kills.  

Denver would battle back and with South Alabama holding an 11-9 advantage after Lea Thurm, Ros and Waelter combined on a block, Kingsley would lead the Pioneers back.  The defending SBC Player of the Week led a run of five unanswered DU points with two kills, a block assist and a solo block.  The Pioneers then took a 14-11 lead after a Jaguar attack error.

With the Pioneers still leading 16-14, USA received a spark off the bench in Wyatt.  After pulling to within one on a Denver serving error, Wyatt – who entered the match with just eight kills on the season – tied the set back up when she slammed home the first of five her kills in the frame.  She would later cap off USA’s 7-0 run with another kill to give the Jags a 21-16 advantage.  

Denver’s Julia Cawthra trimmed the deficit to 24-23 with an ace, but South Alabama was able to take the set on the next point on a Pioneer serving error.

Wyatt finished the first set with five kills on eight attacks and posted a .625 attack percentage.  

SET TWO: Denver 25, South Alabama 19

In set two, Denver came out and quickly retook the momentum, opening up the frame on an 11-2 run, which included the first six points of the frame.  

Over the remainder of the set, South Alabama would attempt to chip away and come back.  With the Pioneers still leading by nine at 21-12 after another kill from Kingsley, USA was able to push across six of the next eight points and trim the deficit to 23-18.  During that stretch, the Jags were led by Mohler and Wyatt.  Mohler recorded a kill and two block assists, while Wyatt added two more kills to her career night.

However, Denver’s Cassie Ronda sealed the 25-19 victory though with her third kill of the frame.

SET THREE: Denver 26, South Alabama 24

Coming out of the intermission tied at one set apiece, Denver looked as if it had taken control of the third set when the Pioneers broke a 14-14 tie with a 5-1 run.  Muhle capped off the scoring and gave DU a 19-15 advantage with a kill.  

With Denver later holding a 23-18 lead after two more service aces from Cawthra, South Alabama began to rally back.  The Jaguars were able to comeback from the five-point deficit as they rattled off six of the next seven points and tied the frame back up at 24-24 after a kill from Ros.  

Coming out of a time out though, DU was able to push across the final two points of the frame and pick up the 26-24 victory and take a 2-1 lead in the match.  Kate Acker and Kingsley combined for a block and Muhle then sealed the win with her fourth kill of the set.  

SET FOUR: Denver 25, South Alabama 13

In the fourth set, the Pioneers continued to ride the momentum and jumped out to a quick 8-3 lead to begin the frame.  USA was able to later trim the deficit to 9-7 after a Pioneer attack error, but DU responded and broke the set open with a 9-1 run over the next 10 points.  Ronda ignited the Denver run with a kill and Kingsley ended it and gave the Pioneers a 18-8 lead with another put away.  

From there, DU went on to capture the match with the 25-13 victory on an Acker ace, her second of the night.

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: Senior defensive specialists Jordan McMullan made her first career start on Saturday versus Denver.  USA’s Amber Wyatt recorded a career-high 13 kills versus the Pioneers.  The Jag freshman had had just eight kills and played in 13 sets of seven matches entering play versus DU.  USA’s Melissa Waelter recorded her third double-double of the season with 12 kills and 12 digs. It was also her second-straight match with one.  With the win, Denver improves to 19-1 in the all-time series and 9-1 in matches played in Mobile.

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