Match Notes - at Florida Atlantic and at Florida International (.pdf)
MOBILE, Ala. – Heading into the final week of the regular season, the University of South Alabama volleyball team is looking to secure a berth in this year’s Sun Belt Conference tournament. USA will lock up a bid into the league tournament with a victory over either Florida Atlantic or Florida International.
“Florida Atlantic always plays hard and gives it their best, and I expect no different this weekend,” South Alabama head coach Amy Hendrichovsky said. “Florida International has been putting up impressive blocking statistics against many opponents this season. For us to offset that, we’re going to have to be in system and continue to be aggressive. FIU is obviously going to get its blocks with it being their strength. We just have to stick to our strengths and keep our offense balanced.”
South Alabama will travel to take on the Owls on Friday night at FAU Arena and then face Florida International at U.S. Century Bank Arena on Saturday. First serve for both matches is set for 5:30 p.m. (CT). Live stats for the match versus Florida International can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com.
The Jaguars (13-15, 6-7 SBC) come into the final weekend of the regular season looking to snap a four-match skid. USA is looking to secure a berth in this year’s conference tournament and will do so with a win in either of its final two matchesl
Sophomore Melissa Waelter continues to lead the way for the Jaguars on the offensive side of the floor as she is eighth in the Sun Belt in kills with 3.17 per set. She is also in a three-way tie for fourth in the league in aces (0.30). Against Middle Tennessee, Waelter had 17 kills on Friday night.
Stewart has also been solid on the offensive side of the net for USA. The true freshman leads the club in kills (288) and ranks second on the team in kills-per-set (2.72). 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 .320 - sixth-best in the SBC.
As a team, South Alabama is third in the conference in digs with 15.23. Junior libero Jenna Hassell is seventh in the SBC in digs (4.00).
Florida Atlantic comes into action this week with a 6-18 overall record and a 1-12 mark in the SBC. The Owls have lost their last seven matches entering play this week, including a 3-0 loss to Florida International over the weekend. FAU is 3-5 at home this season and the lone conference win came back on Oct. 5 in Boca Raton when the Owls defeated Louisiana-Lafayette in five sets.
Owl sophomore Alessia Pizzocheri and junior Darija Sataric lead the club on offense, both averaging 2.76 kills per set. Sataric has been even better in conference action, as she is averaging 3.10 kps in league matches.
Thacilli Pereira is also averaging over two kills per set.
Freshman setter Jelena Jovanovic also ranks among the conference leaders in a couple of categories, ranking second in aces with 0.32 per set and sixth in assists (9.11).
Senior libero Christina Nightengale is 10th in digs with 3.33 per set. As a team, FAU ranks third in the league in aces.
Florida International (8-17, 5-8 SBC) enters Sun Belt play this week after defeating FAU on Saturday. With the win versus the Owls, FIU has now won three of its last five matches and is making a late push to earn a berth in the SBC tournament.
The Panthers are led offensively by Marija Prsa. Prsa currently ranks fourth in the Sun Belt with 3.61 kills per set. She is also second on the club in digs with 2.68 per set.
Junior middle blocker Kimberly Smith (2.28) and freshman opposite side hitter Lucia Castro (2.17) are also averaging above two kills per set coming into the weekend.
The trio of Smith, Brittany Spencer and Silvia Carli has been tough at the net for FIU. Smith leads the club with 1.08 blocks per set, while Carli and Spencer are tied for second with 1.02 bps. All three rank among the league leaders in that category. As a team, the Panthers are averaging 2.66 per set - tops in the conference. The Panthers have been even better at the net in league play as they are leading the Sun Belt with 3.22 blocks per set.
Like FAU, Florida International is under first-year head coach Trevor Theroulde. Theroulde served as FIU’s top assistant for the previous four seasons.
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 currently sit in position for the seventh seed in this year’s Sun Belt Conference tournament. With a win or a Florida International loss, USA will lock up a berth in the league tourney. The meeting between Florida Atlantic and South Alabama this weekend will mark the 15th in the all-time series between the two clubs. The series between the two teams is now tied 7-7 after the Jaguars picked up a straight-set sweep in the first meeting in the season. USA has won the last four meetings and is 2-4 in the series in matches played in Boca Raton. The meeting between Florida International and South Alabama on Saturday will mark the 29th in the all-time series between the two clubs. FIU holds a 21-6-1 advantage in the series, but USA has picked up the last two meetings in the series, including a 3-0 sweep in the first meeting this season. The Jags are also 2-11 versus Florida International in matches played in Miami. South Alabama’s last win versus FIU in Miami came back during the 2004 season.
-- USA --
