Match Notes - Matches 29-30 (vs. Louisiana-Monroe and vs. Troy).pdfMOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball will honor its two seniors – Jenna Hassell and Amber Wyatt – this weekend as the Jaguars host Louisiana-Monroe on Friday night and Troy on Saturday in their final two home matches of the season. First serve for both matches is set for 6 p.m. at Jag Gym.
Prior to Saturday's finale versus the Trojans, USA will recognize both Hassell and Wyatt for their contributions to the program. Earlier this month, Hassell became the program's all-time career digs leader as she has 1.548 entering play this weekend. She also ranks second in career digs per set average at 3.57. Wyatt had her final year cut short even before it began due to a reoccurring shoulder injury. As a junior, Wyatt posted her best numbers in a Jag uniform as she ranked third in the Sun Belt in blocks and ended the year with 106 total blocks and 1.15 bps, both ranking in the top 10 of their respective categories.
"Jenna Hassell and Amber Wyatt are two respectable, committed, and spirited young ladies," South Alabama head coach Amy Hendrichovsky said. "You will not find two girls on our team that have been more involved in the community and athletic department at South Alabama. I believe they gave their all for the program and fully respect them for their commitment along the way. I have thoroughly enjoyed coaching Jenna and Amber the last three seasons. Through the process of being a student-athlete, these two young ladies have matured into two individuals that will be very successful in their next step in life and I look forward to seeing where their journey goes. There is no question that I'm proud to have these two young ladies as alumni for South Alabama volleyball."
Live stats and web streaming for both matches will be available at www.USAJaguars.com and can be accessed on the Jaguar volleyball schedule page.
South Alabama (11-17, 6-12 SBC) enters its final two matches of the regular season tied with Georgia Southern for the last spot in this year's Sun Belt Conference tournament. The Jaguars will host Louisiana-Monroe on Friday and in-state rival Troy on Saturday, while the Eagles host Texas-Arlington on Friday and Texas State on Saturday.
"This weekend is a big weekend and our team understands what is at stake," Hendrichovsky said. "Having these two matches at home with what we look to accomplish is an advantage. This past weekend, we rose to the occasion and played very well against Appalachian State. Over the course of the last few weeks, we have been competing as one unit and focusing on executing at a higher level. Every coach's goal is to have his/her team playing its best at the end of the season and we have the capability of doing that this weekend."
Should South Alabama and Georgia Southern finish the season with just those two clubs holding the same conference record, the Eagles would get the tiebreaker due to sweeping the season series with the Jags.
It is also possible for USA to end up in a either a three- or four-way tie in the final standings as depending on the outcomes of Georgia Southern's, as well as Georgia State's (7-11 SBC) and Louisiana-Lafayette's (8-10 SBC) final two league games. The Jags would need to win both their matches and have the Ragin' Cajuns drop both of their matches – at Arkansas State and versus ULM – in order to move into a tie with ULL. With the two teams having split their matches this season, ULL would hold the advantage over the Jags due to the third tie breaker – total points between the two teams (ULL 208, USA 205). Georgia State sits one match ahead of the Jags in the standings and has matches at home with Troy and Appalachian State. Should USA end in a two-way tie with the Panthers, they would hold the advantage due to taking both matches this season.
Offensively, South Alabama continues to be led by the sophomore duo of Mechell Daniel and Jessica Lewis.
Daniel has led USA offensively in 18 matches this season, including 11 of the last 13. The Chelmsford, England, native ranks sixth in the Sun Belt Conference with her 3.46 kills per set average. She has recorded double-figure kill matches in 21 of her 27 matches this season and has a team-best 12 double-doubles. Daniel carded her 12th double-double of Friday night with a 13-kill, 12-dig performance versus App State.
Lewis has led USA offensively on nine times during the 2014 season and has posted double-digit kill tallies on 18 occasions. Lewis ranks ninth in the latest SBC rankings with her 3.23 kills per set average.
Louisiana-Monroe (9-22, 3-15 SBC) splitting its two matches over the weekend, falling in straight sets to Arkansas State on Friday night, but picking up a five-set win over Appalachian State on Sunday.
"ULM is a feisty team that is coming off a great win this past weekend," Hendrichovsky said. "I expect them to try and carry their momentum into our gym and look to battle. "
Prior to the win over the Mountaineers, ULM has dropped eight of its last nine.
Offensively, ULM is led by Hope Pawlik and Hadley Swartz who each have close to 300 kills on the year. Swartz leads the club with her 2.75 kills per set average, while Pawlik is close behind at 2.69 kps. Pawlik enters this week with 291 kills, while Swartz has 283.
Senior libero Marcela Araya has been outstanding in the defensive back court. She is second in the Sun Belt and ranks eighth nationally in digs per set (5.60). On Monday, the league's preseason defensive player of the week earned the weekly honor for the first time this season. For the week, she averaged 8.25 digs per set and in her final home match of her career, she supplied a 40-dig effort in the upset-victory over App State.
As a team, Louisiana-Monroe is averaging 15.1 digs per set.
The Warhawks are one of the top serving clubs in the nation. ULM has 162 aces this season and their 1.49 aces per set average leads the SBC and ranks 45th in the latest NCAA rankings.
Individually, Bayleigh Hoffman is tied for fourth in the league in aces (0.33). Hoffman leads the club with 36 aces, while Swartz has 25 on the year.
Troy comes into action this week with a 9-21 overall record and a 1-17 mark in Sun Belt play. The Trojans got off to a quick start this season, winning eight of their first nine matches, including their SBC opener to Georgia Southern. Since then however, Troy has dropped 17 straight, nine of which have come in straight sets.
Over the weekend, the Trojans fell 3-0 at Texas State on Saturday.
"Troy is our in-state rival and we always have a tough match on our hands when we compete," Hendrichovsky said. "They also have fought this season and expect them to come to our gym and give us their best fight."
Offensively, Troy has four players averaging over two kills per set. Junior outside hitter Blair Winston paces the club with 2.99 kps. Symone Shaw is averaging 2.61 per set, while Marija Zelenovic and Kiah Cheatham are close behind with 2.50 and 2.03 per set, respectively.
Junior libero Ali Dowdall is fourth in the Sun Belt with 4.82 digs per set. She has twice been selected as the conference's defensive player of the week. Troy is averaging 15.40 digs per set as a team.
The Trojans also rank fourth in the Sun Belt in blocks, averaging 1.95 per set.
NOTES: Prior to Saturday's match versus Troy, South Alabama will honor its two seniors – Jenna Hassell and Amber Wyatt. The match versus the Warhawks on Friday night will be the 16th in the all-time series versus the Jags. South Alabama holds a slim 9-6 advantage in the series and has won eight of the last nine meetings. USA won 3-2 in Monroe earlier this season. The Jags are 6-0 versus the Warhawks in Mobile. The match versus the Trojans on Saturday night will be the 63rd versus South Alabama. The Jaguars hold a 39-23 advantage in the all-time series. USA also holds a 20-10 advantage in the series in matches held in Mobile. The Jaguars took the first meeting this season versus the Trojans in Troy, 3-0.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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