Box Score - Troy 3, South Alabama 2 (.pdf)

TROY, Ala. – Nikki Gittens nearly recorded the first double-double of her career, finishing with 12 kills and nine block assists, but it wasn't enough as the University of South Alabama volleyball team dropped a 3-2 decision (25-22, 19-25, 18-25, 25-21, 8-15) to Troy Tuesday evening at Trojan Arena.

"In the first set, we were able to execute our offense the way we wanted to," South Alabama head coach Amy Hendrichovsky said.  "In the second and third sets, we gave up too many unforced errors and were unable to control the ball on our side of the net.  I was pleased with the effort and the way we fought in the fourth set.  That's what I really like about this team.  We have a group that will continue to fight even when they are down.  Troy was able to feed off their home crowd and they made the plays when it mattered in set five.  Troy plays well at home and their only two losses are to Arkansas State, who is ranked 16th in the country in RPI right now, and Appalachian State.  They are tough and home.  We knew it would be a battle going into this match."

USA (8-8, 2-3 SBC) will now return home to host a pair of matches this weekend.  The Jaguars will welcome UL Lafayette to Jag Gym on Friday night and then host UL Monroe on Saturday.  First serve for both matches is set for 6:30 p.m.  Live stats and web streaming for both matches 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.

Mechell Daniel registered her seventh double-double of the season and the 35th of her career with a match-high 17 kills to go along with 13 digs.  Sophomore outside hitter Kolby Meeks finished just outside double digits with nine kills of her own.  

Defensively, senior defensive specialist Emily Hundt recorded her third-straight 20-dig outing, ending the match with a career-best 26 digs.  

The Trojans won their third-consecutive match and improved to 8-11 overall and 2-4 in league play.  Troy used a balanced offensive attack in the win, placing four players in double figures.  Sara Landis led the way with 13 kills, while Leah Causey and Blair Winston chipped in with 11 kills apiece and Darby Griff added 10.

Griff also ended the night with a team-high five blocks – one solo and four assists.  

Trojan setter Reina Terry had 46 assists and 13 digs, while senior libero Ali Dowdall led all players with 31 digs.

SET ONE: SOUTH ALABAMA 25, TROY 22
Led by Gittens, who had two kills and a block assists early on in the match, the Jaguars jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the opening set.  The Trojans came roaring back with six unanswered points of their own to take a one-point lead (7-6) on kill by Sara Landis.

Troy extended its lead out to 12-9 following a Jag attack error, but South Alabama would rally back and tie the set back up three points later on a kill by Kristina Alabastro.

The Trojans answered right back and retook the lead by picking up five of the next six points to take a 17-13 lead after a USA attack error.  

Still trailing by three (19-16), South Alabama rallied back pushing across five straight points to take the lead.  Daniel tied the set back up at 19-all with a solo block and then teamed up with Sarah Richardson for another block to give the Jags the lead.  Daniel then added her third kill of the frame to give the visitors a 21-19 advantage.

USA would hold the lead for good and finally take the set by pushing across the final two points.  Gittens blasted her sixth kill of the first set to put the Jags a set-point and then the redshirt junior middle blocker combined with Harrell for a block, sealing the 25-22 victory.

SET TWO: TROY 25, SOUTH ALABAMA 19
After exchanging the lead several times early on in the second set, Troy pushed across four straight points and extended its lead out to 12-7 after back-to-back kills by Causey.

South Alabama responded right back with a 6-1 run of its own that was highlighted by three Jag aces – two from Richardson and one by Arissa Chappell.  Chappell's service ace tied the set up at 13-13.

Troy didn't let USA hold the momentum long as it retook the lead with three straight points and later extended its lead out to 19-15 on a kill by Griff when Daniel was called for being in the net.

Coming out of a time out, South Alabama cut the deficit in half after kills by Richardson and Daniel, but two points later, the Trojans would retake control for good as they closed out the second set by pushing across five of the final six points of the frame.  Symone Shaw recorded a solo block to put Troy at set point and then Landis evened the match and gave the home team the 25-19 victory with a kill.

South Alabama struggled to find a consistent offensive attack in the second set, committing eight attack errors and recording a .022 hitting percentage.

SET THREE: TROY 25, SOUTH ALABAMA 18
The Trojans were the first team to gain some breathing room early on in the third set.  Tied 4-4, Troy's defense at the net sparked an 8-1 run over the next nine points.  Troy posted three total blocks over the first four points of the run, including solo blocks by Griff and Winston.  Causey later capped off the run and put Troy up 12-5 with a putaway.

Troy later stretched its lead out to double figures (22-12) after another solo block, this one from Causey.

USA was able to fight of three-straight set points, but Winston clinched the seven-point victory (25-18) with her second kill of the frame.   

SET FOUR: SOUTH ALABAMA 25, TROY 21
Holding a 2-1 lead in the match, Troy continued the ride the momentum and led 13-9 midway through the fourth set following Shaw's third kill of the frame.

On the ensuing point though, Gittens provided the offense for the Jags to lead the comeback.  Gittens recorded four-straight kills for South Alabama and Daniel then tied the set back up at 14-14.  On the next point, Savannah Stewart dropped in an ace to give USA its first lead since the opening point of the set.  

Following a Jaguar serving error, Daniel continued the 9-2 South Alabama run with her second kill of the frame.  Hundt then posted USA's sixth aces of the match.  The Jag defense at the net capped off the run on the next two points as Richardson had a pair of block assists, combining with Daniel and Emma Anderson.

Daniel later clinched the 25-21 victory for the Jaguars with her fourth kill of the frame.

SET FIVE: TROY 15, SOUTH ALABAMA 8
In the fifth and final set, Troy used a 4-0 run to break a early tie and held the lead from there.  Landis and Griff recorded a kill each to begin the scoring and then after a bad set by the Jags, the duo teamed up for a block to give the Trojans a 7-3 lead.

USA would trim the deficit to two on two occasions, but holding a 9-7 advantage, the Trojans broke things and took the set as they rattled off six of the final seven points of the match.  Troy picked up the 15-8 fifth set win following a Jaguar attack error.  

Troy recorded hits best hitting percentage in the final set at .400 (9-1-20).

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).

—USA—