MALIBU, Calif. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team used strong third-set performances in each of its matches on Saturday, but those weren't enough to influence losses to Oral Roberts and Nevada on in the final day at the Pepperdine Asics Classic.
 
The Jaguars (0-3) bounced back from 25-20 and 25-21 sets to Oral Roberts in the noon contest, but could not capitalize on a 15-12 run to push the match to a fifth set, while Nevada stifled USA early in set four to diminish any chance of a comeback in the evening contest.
 
USA sophomore outside hitter Jessica Lewis combined for 28 kills on Saturday, while redshirt-senior libero Jenna Hassell moved to third on the South Alabama career digs list, ahead of former Jaguar standout Shannon VanAntwerp, with 1,289 all-time in the two losses.
 
Lauren Milos paced Oral Roberts in the first set of the first match with 29 kills, with Sarah Pope and Sadie Schaffner following with 10 apiece, while Mechell Daniel led the Jaguars with 13, Nikki Gittens and Lewis checking in with 12 each each for USA.
 
Milos's service ace at 22-20 spurred Oral Roberts to three straight points in the first set, and her kill while three points ahead of USA (24-21) in the following set sparked a second-set win. USA earned as much as a seven-point lead (22-17) in the fourth set versus Oral Roberts, but Gittens and Schaffner combined for four kills to finish off the match.
 
Nevada jumped to a 6-1 lead in the first set of match two on Saturday and sustained for a 25-21 win, going on to win sets two and four by differences of 12 and 11 points apiece.
 
Nevada's Donna Greely committed a service error to put USA ahead, 16-15, in the third set of match two to break a 15-15 deadlock, spurring the Jag on to a 25-22 set win. Nevada's Sam Willoughby was on serve for eight points in the final set, which determined the match.
 
USA returns to action next week with three matches at the University of Wyoming Classic versus Wyoming, Montana and Ball State in Laramie, Wyoming.
 
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).