Match 21: vs. Texas State Match Notes (.pdf)MOBILE, Ala. – After a two-match road trip last weekend, the University of South Alabama volleyball team returns home to host Texas State on Saturday in its annual "Dig Pink" match. First serve is set for 12 p.m. at Jag Gym.
"With Saturday being our Dig Pink game, it allows us to honor the memory of those we have lost to the disease, celebrate the survivors and encourage those still fighting," South Alabama head coach Amy Hendrichovsky said. "It is special to be a part of the volleyball community that has for years raised awareness and funds to help make a difference in the lives of breast cancer patients."
The match versus the Bobcats will also have special meaning for the Jaguars personally as they will also be playing in honor of Janel Cooper, mother of freshman middle blocker Avery Cooper, who fought valiantly, but lost her battle against Ewing's Sarcoma prior to the second weekend of the regular season.
The players will wear pink t-shirts during warm ups as part of the "Dig Pink" campaign, but will also wear lavender on their uniform in honor of her mom. Lavender is the ribbon color for all rare cancers that don't have their own, which Ewing's is since it is typically found in young boys and girls. Fans are encouraged to wear something either pink or lavender to the match.
Live stats and web streaming for the match can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com. Fans can also keep up with in-match updates by following action on the program's twitter account @USA_Jags_VB.
South Alabama (11-9, 5-4 SBC) enters the match versus the Bobcats fresh off the program's first-ever win at Little Rock. In the match, USA trailed 2-1, but rallied back to pick up the final two sets.
"Each win we earn in conference is a big win especially on the road," Hendrichovsky said. "Winning in Little Rock on Saturday and knowing the program hadn't won there before was a great feeling for our team. This season our girls are showing they will compete and battle. With each win, we earn builds our confidence and then we focus on what it takes to earn the next one."
Following the win over the Trojans, the Jaguars have now won four of their last six matches and six of their last nine.
Mechell Daniel, who was named the league's offensive student-athlete of the week on Monday after recording 37 kills in USA's two matches over the weekend and averaging 4.62 kills per set. She also hit .309 and had 30 digs for a 3.72 digs per set average. Daniel also averaged 5.12 points per set in her two outings, as she had four or more kills in all but two of her eight sets.
Daniel is coming off a 21-kill, 21-dig performance at Little Rock on Saturday, marking the first time that has been done by a Jag in a match since the 2010 season.
Daniel currently leads the club with nine double-doubles on the year and is tied for second in the Sun Belt offensively with 3.73 kills per set. In conference play, the Chelmsford, England, native has been even better, averaging 4.25 kps and is hitting .297.
Middle blocker Nikki Gittens had 20 kills and hit .400 in her two matches last week. Gittens enters play this week, averaging 2.29 kills per set and hitting .287 this season.
Gittens and fellow middle blocker Sara Richardson have been outstanding at the net defensively for the Jaguars this season. Richardson and Gittens have combined for 155 total blocks. Richardson holds a slim lead with 78 blocks (0.96 bps), while Gittens has 77 blocks on the year for a 0.93 bps.
Coming into the match, Richardson ranks among the conference leaders in hitting as her .296 attack percentage is ninth-highest in the SBC.
Sophomore setter Emma Anderson has climbed to fourth in the Sun Belt in assists, averaging 9.29 per set. She has six double-doubles in 2015.
As a team, South Alabama ranks fourth in hitting percentage (.207) and digs (15.44). Senior defensive specialist Emily Hundt has been instrumental in leading the Jaguar defense in the back row. The setter turned libero is averaging just under four digs per set with 3.96, which ranks eighth in the SBC. In league play, Hundt is averaging 4.97 digs per set in conference play.
In her last outing, Hundt recorded a 27 digs at Little Rock and in her two matches over the weekend, she averaged 5.12 per set.
Texas State enters play this week with a 12-10 overall mark and a 7-2 record in conference play. The Bobcats currently sit in third place in the latest Sun Belt standings. Their lone losses in conference play have come on the road to Arkansas State (3-2) and Appalachian State (3-0), both of whom are still undefeated in the SBC.
TSU will take on Troy on Thursday night before traveling to Mobile this weekend.
Offensively, sophomore right side hitter Jordan Kohl paces the club with 224 kills and a 2.87 kills per set average. Kohl is hitting .245 this season. Kohl has been even better in Sun Belt action as she is averaging 3.44 kills per set in those matches. Outside hitters Shelby Vas Matt (2.40 kps) and Kelsey Weynard (2.20 kps) have also proven to be offensive threats for Texas State this season.
The Bobcats are fourth in the SBC in kills (12.37) and assists (11.47).
Erin Hoppe ranks as one of the top servers in the country as she has 33 aces this season, which ranks 24th in the latest NCAA rankings. Hoppe's 0.46 aces per set average is 19th-best nationally and leads the Sun Belt. As a team, Texas State is third in the conference from behind the serving line. They are averaging 1.42 per set.
Bobcat libero Sierra Smith is seventh in the SBC in digs with 4.24 per set. Like Kohl, Smith has elevated her play in league action, averaging 5.81 digs per set.
Texas State has made it to the Sun Belt tournament championship match in each of the program's first two seasons in the conference.
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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