Western Kentucky 3, South Alabama 0 (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – In the first match of its four-match home stand, the University of South Alabama volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (20-25, 21-25, 14-25) decision to Sun Belt East Division leader Western Kentucky Friday evening at Jag Gym.

“I thought we were very competitive in each of the first two sets,” South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said.  “Those two sets came down to just a few things at the end.   The third set was disappointing.  We had talked about staying in the match the whole way.  The first two sets came down to a point here or there, a dig here or there, better coverage.  Western Kentucky started blocking us better towards the latter part of each of those sets.  If we had of had better coverage, maybe the set would have been different.”  

USA (9-16, 4-9 SBC) will next host Middle Tennessee on Sunday with first serve set for noon.  With the win, the Toppers improve to 26-3 overall and 13-1 in the conference.

The Jaguars were led offensively in the loss by freshman outside hitter Maureen Ros’ 10 kills.  Fellow freshman Melissa Waelter also chipped in with nine kills of her own.  Junior setter Katariina Kananen recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 27 assists and 10 digs.  Jenna Hassell led all players with 15 digs.

WKU placed two in double figures in kills in the win – Jordyn Skinner (11) and Lindsay Williams (10).  Skinner registered a team-high 12 digs and Williams led all players with a .409 hitting percentage.  

SET ONE: Western Kentucky 25, South Alabama 20

With South Alabama holding a 13-12 advantage after a WKU serving error, the visiting Lady Toppers were the first to break through as they pushed across four straight points.  Skinner began the mini-run with one of her three kills in the frame and on the next point the Toppers took the lead for good after a service ace from Paige Wessel.  Tiffany Elmore followed the ace with a kill and then teamed up with Melanie Stutsman to turn back a Jaguar attack, giving Western Kentucky the 16-13 lead.

The Jaguars hung around and managed to trim the deficit to 19-18 late in the set after a Topper attack error, but that was as close as USA would get.  Western Kentucky went on to take the set and go up 1-0 in the match with the 25-20 first-set victory.

Both clubs came out hitting the ball well in the opening set.  Western Kentucky was able to record a .333 (15-3-30) attack percentage, while USA finished with a .259 (11-4-27).

Wessel and Lindsey Williams had four kills each for WKU, while Waelter had four of her own for the Jaguars.

SET TWO: Western Kentucky 25, South Alabama 21

In the second set, leading 8-7, Western Kentucky was able to reel off five of the next six points and extend its lead out to 13-8.  With the Lady Toppers still holding a five-point advantage (16-11) after a kill from Williams, the Jaguars narrowed the deficit to 16-14 after a pair of kills from Amber Wyatt and one from Hassell.  

South Alabama continued to chip away at the WKU lead.  With the Toppers leading by three, USA took advantage of three-consecutive miscues from Western Kentucky.  Lea Thurm and Waelter combined for another block and on the next point, South Alabama tied the set up at 19-19 after a WKU attack error.

With the frame still tied after a kill from USA’s Ros, WKU retook the lead for good and closed the set by taking four of the final five points.  Williams posted her seventh kill of the match to seal the 25-21 victory.

SET THREE: Western Kentucky 25, South Alabama 14

With the third and final set tied at 5-5, Western Kentucky took control of the match and the set with a 9-1 run.  Elmore ignited the pivotal run for the Toppers with back-to-back kills and WKU grabbed a 14-6 advantage after a Jaguar attack error.  Sarah Rogers also added a pair of service aces during the run.  WKU finished the match with eight aces.

USA was unable to mount any type of rally from there as the Hilltoppers went on to capture the 25-14 victory.

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: With the loss, USA falls to 9-26 in the all-time series.  Dating back to 1989, South Alabama has dropped 33 of the previous 35 meetings.  Of the last 24, all but one of those in straight sets.

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