Box Score - Georgia State 3, South Alabama 0 (.pdf)

ATLANTA, Ga. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team was only able to record four total blocks Friday night against Georgia State and fell 3-0 (18-25, 23-25, 18-25) to the Panthers at the GSU Sports Arena.

The four total blocks tied for second-lowest total this season by the club.  The Jaguars entered the match averaging 2.60 blocks per set and had posted double figures in that category in each of their last two outings.
 
USA (13-10, 7-5) will now travel to take on Appalachian State on Sunday with first serve versus the Mountaineers is set for 11:30 a.m. (CT).  Live stats and web streaming for the match can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com.  The match at Appalachian State can also be seen on ESPN3.  Fans can also keep up with in-match updates by following action on the program's twitter account @USA_Jags_VB.

Mechell Daniel was the lone Jag to finish in double figures offensively with 12 kills.  Kristina Alabastro had eight kills, while Savannah Stewart added seven.  Senior defensive specialist Emily Hundt had 17 digs in the loss.

The win for Georgia State (5-16, 1-10) snaps a 12-match losing streak for the Panthers.  Kristina Stinson recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 12 digs and hit .417 in the match, while Deidra Bohannon also had a double-double finishing with 12 kills and 11 digs.  Kitan Ajanaku ended the night with seven kills and four total blocks – one solo and three assists.

GSU had 48 kills and committed just 13 attack errors to post a .310 hitting percentage.  USA hit .180 (34-14-111) in the loss.

SET ONE: GEORGIA STATE 25, SOUTH ALABAMA 18
Daniel recorded kills on four of South Alabama's first five points of the match and helped the Jaguars take an early 6-5 lead, but Georgia State answered back with a 9-1 run over the next 10 points.  The Panthers opened the scoring with six unanswered points and took a 14-7 lead following an ace by Stinson.  Ajanaku and Stinson each had a pair of kills during the run.

The Panthers held control from there and South Alabama was unable to get any closer than five the rest of the way.  Bohannon and Shae Chapman teamed up for a block to give the Panthers the 25-18 first-set victory.  

The Panthers used a balanced offensive attack during the opening frame as Bohannon, Stinson and Ajanaku each had four kills apiece.  Daniel led the Jaguars with seven kills, while Hundt recorded 11 of USA's 20 digs in the set.  

Georgia State posted 16 kills and committed just five attack errors in its 43 attempts for a .256 hitting percentage, while South Alabama hit .104 (11-6-48).

SET TWO: GEORGIA STATE 25, SOUTH ALABAMA 23
Georgia State led by two (9-7) early on in the second set, but South Alabama rattled off a 5-0 spurt to retake the lead.  Kristina Alabastro began the run with a kill, one of her four in the set, and Daniel then dropped in an ace to tie the contest up at 9-9.  Savannah Stewart later gave USA a 12-9 lead with a kill of her own.

The Jags didn't hold the momentum long as GSU answered right back with a run of four-straight points began by a kill and a solo block by Bohannon.

Bohannon later put the Panthers up with another kill, one of her five in the set, but South Alabama would battle back and tie the set back up at 21-21 on an Alabastro putaway.

With the set still tied at 23-23 after another kill by Alabastro, the Panthers were able to push across the final two points of the set and pick up the 25-23 win.

SET THREE: GEORGIA STATE 25, SOUTH ALABAMA 18
South Alabama picked up the first point of the third set, but that would be the only lead for the Jaguars in the frame.  Leading by two (8-6), the Panthers used a 6-1 run later in the set to pull away and extend their lead out to seven.  Stinson capped off the run and put Georgia State up 14-7 after back-to-back kills.  

USA answered back with three-straight points to trim the deficit to four, but GSU matched that run and went back up 17-10 after another Stinson putaway.  South Alabama got as close as five the rest of the way, but could not draw any closer as Stinson clinched the match and gave Georgia State the 25-18 win with her sixth kill of the frame.  

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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