Arkansas State 3, South Alabama 1 (.pdf)

JONESBORO, Ark. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team fought hard Friday evening but it wasn’t enough as the Jags suffered their first Sun Belt Conference loss of the season, falling 3-1 (27-25, 23-25, 10-25, 25-27) to Arkansas State at the HPESS Facility.

“We were competitive tonight in every set, but the third,” South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said.  “We had a game-plan going into the match and I think that we followed that pretty well.  It just came down to the last few points of a couple of sets.  If we continue to work and learn from those situations, the outcome can be different for us.”

USA (7-8, 2-1 SBC) will return to action on Sunday when the Jags travel to take on UALR.  First serve versus the Trojans is set for 1 p.m. at the Jack Stephens Center.

Jaguar freshman Melissa Waelter led the club with 11 kills on the night, while Olivia Mohler chipped in with nine of her own.  Sophomore libero Jenna Hassell finished the night with a match-high 20 digs in the loss.

Arkansas State (11-6, 3-1 SBC) placed three players in double figures led by Cayla Fielder’s match-high 22 kills.  Fielder also finished the night with a .462 attack percentage.  Ashley Tipps and Jasmine Terry each added 11 kills of their own.

SET ONE: South Alabama 27, Arkansas State 25

In the opening set, Arkansas State held the lead early on jumping out to a 10-5 advantage after a kill from Tipps.  USA answered though and trimmed the deficit to one, picking up five of the next six points and cutting the Red Wolves’ lead to 11-10 after a kill from Salomao.  

Over the next several points, ASU extended its lead back out to as much as five, but the Jaguars would battle back again and tie the set up at 24-24 after a solo block from Mohler.  After exchanging the next two points, Jaguar setter Katariina Kananen dropped in a kill of her own and Lea Thurm capped off the comeback with one of her six kills on then night to give USA the 27-25 victory.

SET TWO: Arkansas State 25, South Alabama 23

For the second-straight set, Arkansas State grabbed the lead early on in set two, leading by as much as seven on several occasions.  Trailing 20-13 after a kill from ASU’s Allison Kearney, USA began to chip away at the deficit and claw its way back.  Over the next 12 points, the Jaguars would reel off nine of them and pull to within one 23-22 after a pair of kills from Mohler.  

Waelter later pulled USA to within one again (24-23), but Fielder sealed the Red Wolf victory with another kill to give ASU the 25-23 victory.

SET THREE: Arkansas State 25, South Alabama 10

South Alabama was able to keep the third set close early on, but with the frame tied 4-4, Arkansas State took control with a 12-3 spurt over the next 15 points.  Tipps and Sadie Clark combined for a block, two of ASU’s 16 block assists in the match, to cap off the run and give the Red Wolves a 16-7 advantage.

The Jaguars struggled to find their offense in the set, posting a -.042 in the set.  ASU on the other hand, registered its best offensive performance of the match, finishing with a .423 in the third set.

SET FOUR: Arkansas State 27, South Alabama 25

In the final set, the two clubs would again keep things close, exchanging the lead seven times in the frame and tying on three occasions.  The Jags sat one point away from evening the match back up at two sets apiece at 25-24 after an ASU attack error, but Fielder tied the contest back up on the next point and after a solo block from Kearney, Taylor Szypulski dropped in a kill to clinch the 27-25 victory for Arkansas State and give the Red Wolves the match.

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, Arkansas State now leads the all-time series, 22-3.  USA is falls to 1-10 all-time in matches played against the Red Wolves in Jonesboro.

-- USA --