MOBILE, Ala. – With three matches scheduled this week, the University of South Alabama volleyball team will begin its busy week when it travels to take on in-state rival Troy at Sartain Hall on Tuesday evening.  First serve versus the Trojans is set for 7 p.m.  USA will also host Western Kentucky on Friday and Middle Tennessee on Sunday.  

Live stats and live video for the match versus Troy can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com.

USA will be looking to avenge a 3-1 defeat against Troy from earlier this season.  USA placed two in double-figures in kills in that match, but Troy’s Natasha Koluija posted a match-high 19 kills in the Trojan victory.  

“I was happy to see us play better this past weekend,” South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said.  “For us against Troy, it’s really going to be about us being able to control the match.  We didn’t have control the first time we played them and we made some unforced errors that cost us.  That’s where the redemption part will be for us – to prove that we can play competitively.  Not give a point away, not give a set away.  It’s going to be about what we have to do.  We are going to have to do a better job against Koluija.  We didn’t block her well or dig her well in the first meeting.”  

The Jaguars enter the midweek contest with an 8-15 overall record and a 3-8 mark in the Sun Belt.  This past weekend, USA snapped a seven-match skid on Friday at Florida Atlantic with a straight-set victory over the Owls.  On Sunday, South Alabama played well, but couldn’t overcome its miscues as it fell 3-0 at Florida International.

With her team-high 13 kills versus the Panthers on Sunday, freshman middle blocker Melissa Waelter now leads the club offensively with 2.53 kills per set.  She is also tied for eighth in the SBC in service aces, averaging 0.27 per set.  

Following Waelter on offense, senior outside hitter Samia Salomao (2.46 kps), junior middle blocker Olivia Mohler (2.31 kps) and freshman outside hitter Maureen Ros (2.28 kps) have also aided to the balanced attack for the Jaguars.  

Defensively, South Alabama ranks fourth in the league in digs, averaging 14.62 per set.  Leading the way individually in that category for the Jags is sophomore libero Jenna Hassell.  The Niceville, Fla., native ranks eighth in the Sun Belt with 3.59 digs per set.

Like USA, Troy comes into action this week after splitting its two matches on the South Florida trip.  The Trojans currently sit in fourth place in the East Division with a 15-10 overall record and a 5-6 mark in league play.  TU began the road swing with a 3-1 loss at FIU on Friday and then a 3-2 victory over FAU on Saturday.

The Trojan offensive attack is led by Koluija who is averaging 2.83 kills per set.  The senior has been even better in Sun Belt play as she is averaging 3.23 kps – eighth-best in the conference.  Koluija however has missed the last two matches for the Trojans.

Troy also has three other players averaging over two kills per set – Breana Cullity (2.60), Kayla Pickart (2.32) and Devin Von Pingel (2.11).  Von Pingel ‘s .322 attack percentage is tied with Arkansas State’s Ashley Tipps for fifth in the SBC entering play this week.

The Trojans have also been extremely tough on the defensive side of the net as they are allowing their opponents to hit just a .171 – which ranks third in the league.  Troy also leads the Sun Belt in digs with 16.04 per set.  The backcourt continues to be led by sophomore libero Courtney Cohen lead the league individually in that same category with 4.69 digs per set.  She already has 436 digs this season and is on pace to break the program’s single-season mark of 488.  

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 meeting between Troy and South Alabama this week will mark the 58th in the all-time series between the two clubs.  USA holds a 36-21 advantage in the all-time series, and has won four of the last seven meetings.  The Jags are also 13-11 versus the Trojans in matches played in Troy.  The Trojans defeated South Alabama 3-1 earlier this season in the first meeting between the two clubs in Mobile.

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