Matches 25-26 - vs. Jackson State and vs. Troy Match Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – After picking up its sixth-straight home victory on Sunday, the University of South Alabama volleyball team will continue its five-match home stand this week as the Jaguars welcome Jackson State and Troy to Jaguar Gym.  USA will take on the Tigers in a midweek tilt on Wednesday and then host the Trojans on Saturday.  First serve for both matches is set for 7 p.m.

“I think at this point in the season, we’ve been practicing against each other for a long time and we’re going to improve whomever we play,” South Alabama head coach Amy Hendrichovsky said.  “Our match against Jackson State will give us the opportunity to get on the court and work on things we have been focusing on in practice.  With Tory, we are going against an opponent that we face just last week.  It was a battle at their place and they had a very nice crowd.  I’m hoping for a nice crowd at our place when we face them on Saturday.  I expect it to be another battle against them.”

Live stats for both matches can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com.

The Jaguars enter play this week after improving to 13-11 overall and 6-4 in the Sun Belt after a 3-1 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette on Sunday.  The win over ULL was the 13th for the Jags this season and 6th league win - tied with the 2010 club for the most SBC wins in a season.  USA also remained perfect at home as the Jags are 6-0 - the first time the program has done so since the 1982 season.

Sophomore Melissa Waelter continues to lead the way for the Jaguars on the offensive side of the floor as she is tied for eighth in the Sun Belt in kills with 3.21 per set.  She is also in a three-way tie for third in the league in aces (0.32).  Coming into the match versus JSU, Waelter has posted four-straight double-doubles.  She has seven on the season.  This past week, Waelter averaged 4.00 kills and 4.62 digs per set in the Jags’ two matches.  

Savannah Stewart has also been solid on the offensive side of the net for USA.  The true freshman leads the club in kills (258) and ranks second on the team in kills-per-set (2.87).  Like Waelter, Stewart has been outstanding on both sides of the net as she has eight double-doubles this season.

Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Torlandria Jones also ranks among the league leaders in hitting percentage as she is hitting .315.

As a team, South Alabama is second in the conference in digs with 15.54.  Junior libero Jenna Hassell is seventh in the SBC in digs (4.00).

Jackson State comes into the midweek contest versus the Jaguars with a 14-11 overall record and a 4-0 mark in the SWAC.  After starting the season with just three wins in their first 14 matches, the Tigers are currently riding an 11-match win streak, including a 3-0 win against Mississippi Valley State last Friday.  During its current win streak, JSU was won eight matches in straight sets.  

The Tigers have already faced four teams from the Sun Belt this season - Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Troy and North Texas - dropping all four of those matches.

Offensively, JSU is led by senior outside hitter Christine Edwards who leads the club in kills (327), kills per set (3.85) and aces (88).  Edwards tops the conference in kills and aces.

The Tigers currently lead the SWAC in six of the seven statistical categories - hitting percentage, opponent hitting percentage, kills, assists, aces and blocks.

Jackson State has been strong on defense at the net as the Tigers are averaging 2.22 blocks per set.  Paige Williams leads the club and the SWAC with 83 blocks this season (1.15 bps).  Mikayla Rollie is second with 78 total blocks.

Troy enters play this week with a 16-9 overall mark and sits in second place in the SBC East Division with a 7-3 record.  The 7-3 continues to be the best start to Sun Belt play in school history.  The Trojans split their two matches last week, defeating the Jags 3-1, but falling to Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday.   The Trojans have won seven of their last nine coming into action this week.

Freshman outside hitter Blair Winston - who was selected as the league’s player of the week on Monday - has made an immediate impact on the Trojan line up, as she leads the club and is tied for ninth in the Sun Belt in kills with 3.21 per set.  Kayla Pickart (2.83 kps), Breanna Cullity (2.48 kps) and Devin Von Pingel (2.30) have also added the Trojan offensive attack.  Von Pingel also ranks as one of the top hitters in the league as her .270 attack percentage is 10th-best in the SBC.

The Trojans have also been solid defensively thus far, as the squad leads the conference in digs (16.34) and are third in holding their opposition to a .163 hitting percentage.  

The strong defense has been aided both in the back court and at the net.  Junior Courtney Cohen’s 4.75 digs per set average, tops among the league liberos, while Cullity ranks third in blocks (1.11).

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 13 wins by the Jaguars are the most for the program since the 1995 season when USA finished 14-12.  USA also has six conference wins coming into the week – tied with the 2010 squad for most in program history.  South Alabama is still undefeated at Jag Gym as the Jags are 6-0 - the first time the program has done so since the 1982 season. Coming into the match versus JSU, USA’s Melissa Waelter has posted four-straight double-doubles and has seven on the season. Jackson State comes into the midweek contest versus the Jags with an 11-match win streak.  The Trojans – off to their best SBC start – lead the Sun Belt Conference in digs (16.34) and are third in holding their opposition to a .163 hitting percentage.  The meeting between Jackson State and South Alabama this week will mark the 12th in the all-time series between the two clubs.  USA holds a commanding 10-1 lead in the all-time series and has won the last 10 meetings.  The lone loss for USA in the series came back in 1979 when the Jaguars fell 2-1 to JSU in Panama City, Fla.  The Jags are 5-0 versus the Tigers in matches played in Mobile.  The meeting between Troy and South Alabama on Saturday will mark the 60th in the all-time series between the two clubs.  USA holds a 37-22 advantage in the all-time series and has won five of the last nine meetings.  The Jags are also 21-8 versus the Trojans in matches played in Mobile.  The two clubs meet a little over a week ago with the Trojans picking up a 3-1 victory in Troy.

-- USA --