South Alabama 3, Jackson State 0 (.pdf)

Nicholls State 3, South Alabama 1 (.pdf)

THIBODAUX, La. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team earned a split on Saturday, falling 3-1 to Nicholls State in the opening match of the day, but bouncing back to defeat Jackson State on day two of the PRO-MAG Colonel Classic held at Stopher Gym.

“Against Nicholls we made way too many mistakes that gave them 11 points in the fourth set,” South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said.  “I was glad to see us bounce back and play better against Jackson State in the second match and pick up the win.”

USA (4-5) will now close out the non-conference portion of its schedule next weekend when the Jags head to New Orleans, La., to compete at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Classic (Sept. 16-17) hosted by Tulane.  South Alabama will take on Lamar on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and then face Belmont (1 p.m.) and Tulane (7 p.m.) on Saturday.

SOUTH ALABAMA 3, JACKSON STATE 1

In its second match of the day, the South Alabama offense bounced back and recorded one of its better offensive showings of the season with a .344 (44-12-93) hitting percentage, en route to picking up a 3-0 sweep of Jackson State (25-21, 25-17, 25-14). 

The Jaguars were led by freshman Melissa Waelter’s 15 kills and junior Olivia Mohler’s 10 kills.  Mohler also posted a .368 attack percentage and six block assists, while being named to the all-tournament squad.  Jenna Hassell led all players with 16 digs, while Samia Salomao and Maureen Ros each added 10 of their own.  

Jackson State (3-5) received a team-high nine kills in the loss from Chyna Coleman.

SET ONE: South Alabama 25, Jackson State 21

Led by the play of Waelters, South Alabama jumped out to an early five-point lead at 9-4.  The Jaguar middle blocker had a pair of kills to pace the attack early on.  Jackson State though answered right back and quickly erased the USA advantage as the Tigers outscored the Jags 9-4 over the next 13 points and tied the set up at 13 after a kill from Paige Williams.  Williams recorded three of her four kills during the JSU run.

Later in the set with South Alabama leading by one (21-20), Waelter came through again and began a run where the Jaguars reeled off four of the final five points to close the frame and pick up the 25-21 win. 

SET TWO: South Alabama 25, Jackson State 17

In the second set, Jackson State tied things up at 7-7 after a kill from Coleman, but over the next 12 points, South Alabama went on to pick up 10 of them and open things up.  Jag freshman Amber Wyatt began the run with a kill of her own.  Mohler and Ros then carried the club, registering two kills apiece during that same stretch to put USA out in front 17-9. 

The Tigers got no closer than six the rest of the frame as Waelter slammed home yet another kill to give USA a 2-0 lead in the match with the 25-17 second-set victory.  South Alabama was extremely efficient in the second set, recording 16 kills on 30 attempts,, committing just three errors for a .433 percentage.

SET THREE:  South Alabama 25, Jackson State 14

Riding the momentum, South Alabama took control from the outset opening the third set with a 5-0 run.  Walter began things with two more kills and later combined with Mohler for a block during the scoring spurt.  USA continued to maintain control over the next several points, extending its lead to double figures at 14-4 after a service ace from Mohler and a JSU attack error.

The Tigers would get no closer as South Alabama finished strong, taking the final set, 25-14.  For the second set in a row, USA was hot on the offensive side of the net, hitting a .414 (15-3-29)

NICHOLLS STATE 3, SOUTH ALABAMA 1

Led by Rachel Yezak’s match-high 13 kills and 13 total team blocks (two solo and 22 assists) the Colonels (6-3) handed South Alabama a 3-1 (25-18, 18-25, 27-25, 25-15) defeat in the Jags first match of the day at the Colonel Classic.

Yezak also posted a match-best .357 hitting percentage, while also finishing the match with 11 digs.  Jennifer Brandt chipped in with nine kills of her own and Jennifer Dunn and Jordan Kraust finished with 16 and 13 digs, respectively.

South Alabama was paced offensively by Salomao’s 12 kills.  Mohler also chipped in with 10 kills of her own, while Hassell finished the match with a season-high 25 digs.

SET ONE: Nicholls State 25, South Alabama 18

Nicholls State came out in the first set and grabbed the lead for good when the Colonels reeled off five unanswered points to take the five-point lead.  Yezak highlighted the scoring spurt for NSU with a pair of kills, including one to cap off the run.

Later in the set with USA trailing 12-7, the Jaguars attempted to rally back, pushing across seven of the next 10 points to trim the deficit to one (15-14).  Mohler slammed home a kill to ignite the run.  The Vancleave, Miss., later added two more kills, including onto tie the set back up at 16-16.  Waelter also added a pair of aces for the Jags during the run.

However with the scored still tied two points later, Nicholls State retook the lead for good with a string of five unanswered points.  Yezak again provided the offense for South Alabama with another putaway  Yezak and Jasmine Harris  also teamed together to combine for two block assists and Harris turned back a shot from Ros to put the Colonels up 22-17.

Nicholls would go on to take the 1-0 lead in the match with the 25-18 victory.

SET TWO: South Alabama 25, Nicholls State 18

The second set remained close for most of the frame, but with Nicholls State holding a 12-9 advantage, Waelter slammed home one of her nine kills on the afternoon to ignite a 14-0 run for the Jaguars.  Katariina Kananen then dropped in kill of her own to keep things going and Waelter recorded one of her four service aces in the match to tie things up.  On the next point, USA took the lead for good on a Colonel attack error.  Valerie Podczasy and Mohler helped lead the charge for South Alabama, combining for five kills run.

USA led by as many as 10 (24-14) before going on to even the match at one set apiece with the 25-18 victory.  The Jaguars would post their best hitting percentage of the match in the second set (.250), as they finished the frame with 14 kills on 36 attacks, while committing just five errors.

SET THREE: Nicholls State 27, South Alabama 25

In the third set, Nicholls State looked as if it were going to pull away from the Jags when the Colonels broke a 9-9 tie when they rattled off six of the next seven points.  Addicks was responsible for the first four points of the run with two kills and two block assists.  Jennifer Brandt then capped off the scoring with back-to-back kills to give NSU the 15-10 lead.

Trailing 22-19, South Alabama rallied back and took the lead with a 5-1 spurt.  Ros began the scoring for the Jaguars with a pair of kills and Salomao and Lea Thurm later teamed up for a block to tie the contest up at 23-23.  After another attack error, USA sat just one point from taking the set, but Yezak again had the answer for the Colonels.  In extra points, NSU was able to push across the final two to grab the 2-1 match lead with a 27-25 third set victory.  Addicks – who finished with a match-high seven total blocks – posted her only solo block on the afternoon to clinch the set for Nicholls.

SET FOUR: Nicholls State 25, South Alabama 15

Tied again nine in the fourth set, the Colonels broke the set open with an 8-2 run over the next 10 points to take control of the match.  Over the pivotal NSU run, Yezak and Brandt combined for two kills apiece.  From there, Nicholls State didn’t allow the Jags to gain any momentum as the Colonels went on to capture the match with the 25-15 victory.  NSU ended strong, posting its best offensive performance of the match with a .440 attack percentage (12-1-25).

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).

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