Match 25: vs. Little Rock Match Notes (.pdf)

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team will play its final home match of the 2015 season Friday afternoon when the Jaguars welcome Little Rock.  First serve versus the Trojans is set for 4 p.m. at Jag Gym.

Prior to the match, South Alabama will honor defensive specialist Emily Hundt and outside hitter Savannah Stewart who will be playing their final home match of their careers.  

"These two young ladies were in my first recruiting class at South Alabama," South Alabama head coach Amy Hendrichovsky said.  "I have complete respect for them taking a leap of faith in my vision for this program and helping myself and my staff build towards a new legacy and a championship culture.  These two young ladies are prepared to be very successful in their professional lives and will become respectable business women, which in the end is most important."

Hundt, who has also been a four-year letterwinner with the program, transitioned to the backcourt this season after starting at the setter position each of her previous three seasons.  This season she has excelled at the new position.  This past weekend, Hundt became just the seventh player to eclipse the 1,000 dig mark for her career.  She will also end her career ranked among the program's all-time leaders in both assists and digs.  She is just the second player in program history to have 1,900 assists and 1,000 digs in her career, joining former Jag Ninette Encalade as the only other player to do so.

"Emily in a few words is competitive, passionate, hard working and driven," Hendrichovsky said of Hundt.  "This past spring, I asked her to transition to a new position for her senior season due to an injury.  To see how successful she has been in her new role is remarkable.  She has brought a toughness and confidence to our back court and drives our team in big moments.  I'm really proud of the leader she has developed into over the years.  Emily is determined and has what it takes to lead this team to accomplish great things."

Stewart has been a four-year member with the program.  She recorded over 300 kills and 300 digs during her freshman season, one of five players to ever record the feat at USA.  After missing her sophomore season due to injury, she returned to the jag line up a year ago and this season she has played a key role in the success of the club.  Over the course of her career, she has competed in 78 matches and recorded 418 kills, 650 digs, 53 total blocks and 67 aces.

"Savannah has had to face some tough challenges in her four years with injuries, but she's always stayed engaged and helped her teammates, whether she was on or off the floor," Hendrichovsky said.  "She's an extension of the coaching staff and has always brought her high volleyball IQ for the betterment of our program.  Savannah's teammates respect her for the calmness and confidence she brings to the court.  This season, I've enjoyed seeing her compete at a level she didn't know she could ever get back to, and it truly is special.  Right now, she is playing some of her best volleyball."

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 (13-11, 7-6 SBC) comes into play this week after falling in straight sets at Appalachian State on Sunday.  App State held the Jaguars to a season-low .101 hitting percentage, while registering 60 kills and hitting .252.

Despite the loss to the Mountaineers, the Jaguars have won seven of their last 11 in Sun Belt action.  South Alabama currently sits in a three-way tie with Little Rock and UT Arlington for fourth place in the Sun Belt standings.  USA took the first meeting this season between the two clubs, defeating the Trojans 3-2 on their home floor.

Mechell Daniel continues to lead South Alabama offensively as she ranks fourth in the conference offensively with 351 kills and a 3.62 kills per set average.  Daniel recorded her team-best 11th double-double of the season against App State on Sunday with 11 kills and 16 digs.  Over the last 13 matches, Daniel has had eight of her 11 double-doubles.  Over that same stretch, the junior opposite side hitter has averaged 3.85 kills and 3.13 digs per set.

Middle blocker Nikki Gittens is coming off a career-best 15 kills and .407 hitting percentage against the Mountaineers.  She is second on the club offensively, averaging 2.20 kills per set and a .263 hitting percentage.

Gittens and fellow middle blocker Sarah Richardson have been outstanding at the net defensively for the Jaguars this season.  Richardson and Gittens have combined for 93 total blocks.  Gittens holds a slim lead with 97 total blocks.  She is averaging 1.00 blocks per set, which is tied for seventh in the SBC.  Richardson has 96 total blocks - 10 solo - and is averaging 0.99 blocks per set.

Hundt has been instrumental in leading the Jaguar defense in the back row this season, as she is averaging 4.01, which ranks eighth in the conference.  In Sun Belt play, Hundt is averaging 4.75 per set.  As a team, USA is averaging 16.38 dps in league action.

As a team, South Alabama ranks third in digs (15.51) and fourth in blocks (2.22).  Over the last 13 matches, the Jaguars are even better in those two categories, averaging 16.46 dps and 2.50 bps.

Little Rock enters play this week with an 11-12 overall record and a 7-6 mark in league play.  On Saturday, LR picked up a 3-1 victory at home over Georgia Southern.  The four-set win over the Eagles, the Trojans secured a spot in this month's conference tournament, marking the fifth consecutive season for the defending tourney champs to do so.

Edina Selimovic, the Sun Belt's Preseason Player of the Year, ranks in the top 10 in four different categories thus far this season.  Selimovic is third in blocks (1.14), fourth in hitting (.344) and sixth in kills (3.21) and serving (0.31).  The junior middle blocker has recorded double-digit kill tallies in 18 of her 23 matches.  

Little Rock still ranks as one of the top defensive clubs in the Sun Belt.  The Trojans lead the league in blocks with 2.58 per set and are second in opponent's hitting percentage, holding opponents to a .165 percentage.  LR is 36th nationally in blocks per set and 34th in opponent's hitting percentage in the latest NCAA rankings.

The Trojans feature one of the top blocking duos in the country.  Carolee Dillard's 1.19 blocks per set average is tops in the conference.  The duo of Dillard and Selimovic is averaging a combined 2.33 blocks per set and in conference matches, they are averaging 2.56 per set.

Senior libero Priscilla Almeida has made an immediate impact on the Trojan roster in her first season with the program.  Almeida is third in the Sun Belt and ranks 18th in the most recent NCAA rankings in digs per set with 5.20.  Almeida has had eight matches with 20 or more digs, including three with 34-plus.  

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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