Match 27-28 - vs. Middle Tennessee and vs. No. 19 Western Kentucky (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team will face a tough test this weekend as the Jaguars close out the home portion of its schedule when they welcome Middle Tennessee and 19th-ranked Western Kentucky this weekend at Jag Gym.  First serve versus the Blue Raiders is set for 7 p.m. on Friday and first serve versus the Toppers is scheduled for noon on Sunday.

“This weekend we will face two teams with two different systems and strengths,” South Alabama head coach Amy Hendrichovsky.   “Middle Tennessee is an aggressive and physical team that will run a fast offense and use their speed to earn points.  Western Kentucky is a very disciplined team that is playing consistent and error free volleyball.  For us to be successful, we will also look to be aggressive and focus on taking care of the ball on our side.  I know our team will compete and look for them to play relaxed and enjoy being at home.”

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

South Alabama will also honor its five seniors – Katariina Kananen, Olivia Mohler, Elina Strautniece, Valerie Podczasy and Lindsay Schwartz.  

“After our Western Kentucky match, we will honor our five seniors for their time as a Jaguar,” Hendrichovsky said.  “This group of young ladies has been a joy to work with.  All five of them carry different roles on this team but all five of them are important to our team chemistry.  I can honestly say I feel these young ladies will move on and be successful in their next journey in life and I hope they were able to learn as much from me as I did from them.”

The Jaguars come into this weekend’s matches with a 13-13 overall mark and a 6-5 record in the Sun Belt.  USA currently sits in third-place in the SBC East Division.  The Jags are currently in a three-way tie for fourth-best conference record with Arkansas State and North Texas and if the conference tournament were to start this weekend, South Alabama would be the sixth seed due to tie-breaking procedures.

USA had been undefeated at home this season prior to last week’s action, but the Jags dropped a pair of matches falling to Jackson State and to in-state rival Troy in a battle for second place in the division.  

Sophomore Melissa Waelter continues to lead the way for the Jaguars on the offensive side of the floor as she is tied for ninth in the Sun Belt in kills with 3.12 per set.  She is also in a three-way tie for fifth in the league in aces (0.30).  Coming into the match versus MTSU, Waelter has eight double-doubles on the season.  

Savannah Stewart has also been solid on the offensive side of the net for USA.  The true freshman leads the club in kills (274) and ranks second on the team in kills-per-set (2.77).  Like Waelter, Stewart has been outstanding on both sides of the net as she has eight double-doubles of her own this season.  Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Torlandria Jones also ranks among the league leaders in hitting percentage as she is hitting .305.

As a team, South Alabama is third in the conference in digs with 15.38.  Junior libero Jenna Hassell is seventh in the SBC in digs (4.04).

Middle Tennessee enters action this week with a 9-20 overall record and a 6-6 record in the Sun Belt, just a half game behind USA.  After starting out slow, the Blue Raiders have played better as of late, winning four of their last seven matches.  All four of those victories have come versus either Florida International or Florida Atlantic.

Freshman outside hitter Chelsea Ross has been outstanding in her first collegiate season.  The 5-11 outside hitter has twice been named the league’s player of the week.  She currently ranks second in the conference in kills with 4.09 per set.  She also leads the Blue Raiders in service aces (24) and is second digs with 2.51.

Tyler Richardson has also had a solid first season for Middle Tennessee.  The redshirt freshman middle blocker is second in the SBC in blocks with (1.25 bps - 133 blocks) coming into the match versus the Jaguars.

In the back court, freshman libero Bri McCombs is eighth in the league in digs with 3.88 per set.  

The meeting between Middle Tennessee and South Alabama this week will mark the 19th in the all-time series between the two clubs. Middle Tennessee holds a 17-1 record in the all-time series. The two teams have met three other times, but those wins had to be vacated by the Blue Raiders as a result of NCAA penalties. USA picked up the program’s first-ever win over the Blue Raiders in the SBC opener, defeating MTSU 3-2 in Murfreesboro.

Western Kentucky comes into Sun Belt Conference action this week as one of the hottest teams in the nation with a 26-3, 12-0 SBC overall record and ranked 19th in the nation in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll.  The ranking is the highest in program history and marks the seventh-straight week that the Toppers have been in the national poll.  

Along with winning all 12 of its league matches this season, WKU has dropped just one set.  The Hilltoppers have not lost a match since a 3-1 loss to Ohio State - a streak of 18-straight wins - tied with Morehead State for the nation’s longest active win streak.  

WKU will travel to Troy on Friday prior to taking on the Jaguars.  A win versus the Trojans will tie the program’s longest win streak of 19 matches.  WKU holds a pair of victories over top 25 clubs this season, defeating then 10th-ranked Dayton and 22nd-ranked Michigan.  

The Lady Toppers come into play this week led by Preseason Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Jordyn Skinner.  Skinner has definitely lived up to the preseason billing as she leads the club and ranks 10th in the SBC with 3.06 kills per set.  She also ranks second on the team in digs with 2.86 per set.  

Along with Skinner, Heather Boyan (2.68), Paige Wessel (2.55) and Haley Bodway (2.23) are also averaging over two kills per set.  Wessel and Boyan rank first and second, respectively, in the conference in hitting percentage.  Wessel is hitting .397, while Boyan .361.  The duo is also 13th and 43rd, respectively in this week’s national rankings in the same category.

Melanie Stutsman (.332 - fourth) and Noelle Langekamp (.288 - eighth) also rank in the top 10 in that category in the league.  Stutsman also leads the league in assists with 11.09 per set.

Ashley Potts, the league’s preseason defensive player of the year, has also been stellar as she third in the SBC in digs with 4.64.  Potts has been named the conference’s defensive player of the week on three occasions, most recently on Monday.

As a team, WKU leads the conference in hitting (.294), kills (14.06), opponent hitting percentage (.142) and assists (13.23), and are second in aces (1.38).  In conference matches, the Hilltoppers lead the league in all four categories.  Western Kentucky is seventh in the NCAAs in hitting percentage.

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 Jags are currently in a three-way tie for fourth-best conference record with Arkansas State and North Texas and if the conference tournament were to start this weekend, South Alabama would be the sixth seed due to tie-breaking procedures.  Before arriving at USA, Jaguar head coach Amy Hendrichovsky was an assistant in Murfreesboro for the previous six seasons and played collegiately at North Alabama under Blue Raider head coach Matt Peck.  Graduate assistant coach Paul McCormack and volunteer assistant coach Janay Yancey.  The meeting between Middle Tennessee and South Alabama this week will mark the 19th in the all-time series between the two clubs. Middle Tennessee holds a 17-1 record in the all-time series. The two teams have met three other times, but those wins had to be vacated by the Blue Raiders as a result of NCAA penalties. USA picked up the program’s first-ever win over the Blue Raiders in the SBC opener, defeating MTSU 3-2 in Murfreesboro.  The meeting this weekend will mark the 47th between Western Kentucky and South Alabama. WKU holds a 37-9 lead all-time series. Dating back to 1989, USA has dropped 34 of the previous 36 meetings, including the last 25 - all but one of those in straight sets. South Alabama’s last win versus the Lady Toppers came back during the 1995 season when USA captured a 3-1 victory in Mobile. USA is just 4-14 all-time in Mobile, having lost the last 12 matches at home to the Toppers.  The Jaguars last victory in Mobile in the series came back during the 1995 season.  WKU has won 18-straight matches - tied for the nation’s longest active win streak - coming into action this week and is ranked 19th in the nation.  

-- USA --