Colonel Classic Match Notes (.pdf)
MOBILE, Ala. – Coming off a much better showing this past weekend, the University of South Alabama volleyball team will look to build momentum this weekend as they travel to Thibodaux, La., to compete in the Colonel Classic hosted by Nicholls State at Stopher Gym. USA will open up play versus Alabama State on Friday at 12:30 p.m. and then return to action on Saturday with a pair of matches – vs. Nicholls State at 12:30 p.m. and vs. Jackson State at 3 p.m.
The Jaguars enter play this weekend at the Nicholls State tourney with a 2-4 record on the season. USA picked up its first two wins of the season, this past weekend at the Jaguar Classic, defeating both Southeastern Louisiana and Alabama A&M in straight sets, before falling in the finale, 3-1, to Louisiana Tech.
While the tournament didn’t end the way that the Jags would have liked, head coach Nicole Keshock feels that there were positive strides made over the weekend that the team can build on as they head further into the season.
“This past weekend, I felt like we took a lot of positive steps forward,” Keshock said. “In the Louisiana Tech match, we kind of took some steps back with some unforced errors. This week in practice, we are going to focus on correcting the crucial hitting errors and serving errors that we had late in that match. When you get to 20 points, you have to make less mistakes than your opponent and that’s what lost (the match) versus Louisiana Tech. We want our players to be able to keep the ball in play even when it’s not a perfect set or a perfect toss off of their serve.
“Coming off this past weekend, I just want us to continue to build off the positive steps that we had and start to play a little bit cleaner. We also want to get some of the players who haven’t seen a lot of time on the court yet get some playing time and more reps than they have gotten just so that they are ready. I think this week of practice will be important and hopefully we will continue to make positive steps forward this weekend.”
Samia Salomao paces the club on in both kills and digs. The senior outside hitter is averaging just under three kills per set (2.95) and has a team-best 3.05 digs per set. She has three double-figure kill tallies this season and has also recorded three double-doubles thus far through 2011.
Freshman middle blocker Melissa Waelter is also coming off a strong showing this past weekend. The Arnsburg, Germany native led USA with 3.20 kills per set, over the weekend, while also posting a team-best eight service aces. For her play, she was selected to the all-tournament team. Waelter currently ranks second on the club with 2.52 kills per set and leads the team with 11 aces.
Both Waelter and Salomao rank among the league leaders in serving. Waelter is fourth with 0.54 per set, while Salomao is seventh with 0.43 per set. As a club, South Alabama is third in the SBC in the category, coming in with 1.67 per set.
Also earning all-tournament honors at the Jaguar Classic was Jaguar setter Katariina Kananen. Kananen is now averaging 9.05 assists per set, fifth-best in the Sun Belt.
One area where the Jags have been solid all season has been in the backcourt. After the first two weeks of play, USA ranks fourth in the conference in digs (14.76). Individually, Salomao and Hassell pace the club. With her 20 digs against Louisiana Tech, Hassell has raised her average to 2.90 per set.
Friday’s opponent, Alabama State comes into the week with a 1-7 record on the year. Over the weekend, the Lady Hornets recorded a 1-3 record at the South Carolina State Spike Fest tournament in Orangeburg, S.C. ASU has already faced one Sun Belt opponent this season, falling 3-0 to Troy during the opening weekend of play at the Hampton Inn Bama Bash tournament in Tuscaloosa, Ala. ASU will host Stillman College Tuesday evening before heading to Thibodaux, La.
The Lady Hornets are led offensively by freshman outside hitter Maya Bell. The 5-9 Moreno Valley, Calif., native has a team-best 95 kills and is averaging 3.52 kills per set. Second-team preseason all-SWAC member Asia Manning is second on the club with 1.93 kps.
The defensive backcourt is led by SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Roselande Corneille. The junior defensive specialist is averaging 2.41 digs per set.
As a team, Alabama State is hitting just .085, while allowing its opponents an attack percentage of .256.
Jackson State enters play this week with a 1-3 record. The Tigers and the Jags do have one opponent in common thus far this season, as both have faced Southeastern Louisiana. JSU nearly picked up a road win over the Lions, picking up the first two sets versus SLU. Southeastern though, rallied back and captured the final three sets to earn the victory.
The Tigers will host Louisiana Tech on Wednesday before competing in this weekend’s tournament.
Christine Edwards is off to an outstanding start this season. The 5-10 junior outside hitter is averaging 4.12 kills per set and is hitting .203. She is also chipping in 2.35 digs per set. During JSU’s opening weekend, she averaged 18 kills and 11 digs in three matches at the Southern Miss Invite, while posting a match-high 21 kills against Northwestern State and a double-double (19 kills and 15 digs) in a win over Chattanooga. For her play, Edwards was named to the all-tournament team and selected as the SWAC Player of the Week.
As a team, the Tigers have been extremely tough at the net, averaging 2.12 blocks per frame. Leading the way in that category is sophomore middle blocker Paige Williams, who is registering 1.47 bps. Daedra Carline anchors the defensive backcourt with 3.50 digs per set.
Nicholls State (3-3) returns home this week for the first time this season. NSU will host Grambling State Tuesday evening and then welcome the tournament field for the Colonel Classic this weekend the first of two-straight home tournaments. NSU went 2-0 this past weekend at the Bon Temps Invitational hosted by Louisiana-Lafayette, picking up 3-0 victories over Mississippi Valley State and Texas Southern. The Colonels were scheduled to take on the Ragin’ Cajuns, but due to weather conditions, the tournament was cut short.
Heading into play this week, four players are averaging at least two kills per set for the Colonels. Senior right side hitter Rachel Yezack leads the team with 2.22 per set. She is followed by Jennifer Brandt (2.18), Jasmine Harris (2.06) and Jessica Addicks (2.00). Addicks has been very efficient in her attacks as she ranks seventh in the league with a hitting percentage of .302. As a team, NSU is hitting .170.
Nicholls State does rank near the top of the Southland Conference in opponent’s hitting percentage, entering play this week ranked second in the league, allowing opponents a .146 clip. Part of the reason for the offensive struggles by the opposition can be attributed to the play of Harris. The junior middle blocker has been tough at the net, as she is averaging 1.12 blocks per set - third-best in the SLC.
The Colonels have been solid this season from behind the service line. Through their first six matches, NSU has posted 27 service aces. Leading the way in that department are Sarah Terry (0.36) and Brandt (0.35), ranking fifth and sixth, respectively, in the Southland in service aces.
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: South Alabama volleyball assistant coach Nicole McCoy is making a return trip to a familiar place this weekend. Before coming to USA, she spent the previous four seasons at Nicholls State as a coach. The meeting this weekend for South Alabama and Alabama State will be the 26th all-time between the two clubs. South Alabama has won 15 straight in the series, including a 3-0 victory over ASU in Mobile. USA has been just as dominant in the series with Jackson State, as the Jags hold a 9-1 advantage in the all-time series. JSU picked up the first meeting back during the 1979 season, but since, USA has captured every other meeting, including the last, a 3-2 victory in Mobile during the 2009 season. South Alabama holds a 52-6 all-time record against current Southwestern Athletic Conference members. USA is 1-0 against the league this season, defeating Alabama A&M this past weekend in straight-sets at the Jaguar Classic. South Alabama and Nicholls State have met 30 previous times in the all-time series. USA holds a 17-13 mark in the series, but last season, the Colonels captured a pair of victories over the Jags to snap a three-match win-streak for USA. Against current members of the Southland Conference, South Alabama holds an all-time record of 54-51. USA defeated Southeastern Louisiana 3-0 at the Jaguar Classic in Mobile, this past weekend.
-- USA --
