Box Score - South Alabama 3, Houston Baptist 2 (.pdf)MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team picked up a thrilling 3-2 (25-15, 20-25, 25-17, 26-28, 16-14) victory Friday evening over Houston Baptist in its opening match of the Jaguar Invitational held at Jag Gym.
"We pretty much controlled sets one and three, and at those times, we were really playing our style of volleyball," South Alabama head coach Amy Hendrichovsky said. "We had a lot of fun and played free. In the game of volleyball though, you reset after ever set and it's always a new game and that's just about controlling your emotions and the momentum. In the game of volleyball at this level, it's about being able to be mentally tough and fight and compete. In set five, Houston Baptist had match-point twice and we fought, dug in and got some gutsy points at the end. It was nice to see our team do that tonight."
USA (3-4) will host McNeese State on Saturday at 1 p.m., and then face Samford at 6:30 p.m. later that night. Samford defeated McNeese in five sets in the first match of the tournament on Friday.
The Jaguars were led by Mechell Daniel, who recorded her third double-double of the season with 18 kills and 18 digs. Also carding a double-double in the victory for the Jags was sophomore setter Emma Anderson (50 assists, 10 digs).
Nikki Gittens and Kristina Alabastro also chipped in with 12 kills each. Defensively, Arissa Chappell paced the club with 19 digs and also recorded a career-high five aces. Also registering double figures in digs on Friday were Emily Hundt (16) and Savannah Stewart (14). As a team, South Alabama held an 82-73 advantage in that category.
The Jaguars also recorded 14 block assists in the victory, led by five from Sarah Richardson and four from Daniel. Richardson had eight kills on 15 attacks and no errors for a match-high .533 hitting percentage. As a club, USA hit .246 (62-20-171).
Houston Baptist moved to 5-4 on the season with the loss and placed two players in double figures offensively. Jessica Wooten had 16 kills, while Bailey Banks was close behind her with 15.
The Huskies did have five players end the match in double digits in digs led by Wooten's 16. Banks added 14 digs of her own, while Kayla Armer had 13 digs to go along with her 41 assists and Ashlee Vann and Hailey Erickson chipped in with 15 and 11 digs, respectively.
SET ONE: SOUTH ALABAMA 25, HOUSTON BAPTIST 15The Jags got off to a quick start in the opening frame, posting 18 kills and hitting .378, while holding HBU to just eight kills and a .143 hitting percentage.
Leading by two (11-9), South Alabama pushed across five of the next six points and extended its lead out to 16-10 following a back-to-back kills by Gittens. From there, USA continued to hold control and eventually went on to take the early lead in the match with the 25-15 first-set victory after a kill by Stewart.
Daniel led all players with six kills in the opening set.
SET TWO: HOUSTON BAPTIST 25, SOUTH ALABAMA 20In the second set, the Huskies found their offense, posting 15 kills with Wooten and Banks each recording five in the frame.
South Alabama looked in control through the first half of the set, building its lead to as much as 13-7 after a kill by Alabastro, one of her five in the set and a HBU attack error.
Coming out of a time out though, the Huskies began to chip away at the Jaguar advantage and tied the set back up at 17-17 following a bad set by USA. Houston Baptist then continued its run and took its first lead on the next two points after kills by Wooten and Blair Gillard.
HBU later picked up the final three points of the set for the 25-20 win to even the match at a set apiece.
SET THREE: SOUTH ALABAMA 25, HOUSTON BAPTIST 17In the third set, the Jaguars reclaimed the momentum as they rattled off seven of the first eight points. Gittens and Daniel each recorded two kills apiece during the opening run and Chappell put USA up 7-1 with an ace.
HBU continued to battle back and cut the deficit to 11-8 following a kill by Armer, but that was as close as the visitors would get. USA stretched its lead back out to eight (17-9) with a 6-1 spurt. Daniel capped off the run with her fourth kill of the set.
Stewart later sealed the 25-17 win for the Jaguars with another kill.
As a team, South Alabama posted a .394 hitting percentage and had 15 kills and just two attack errors. USA also registered 14 assists on its 15 kills.
SET FOUR: HOUSTON BAPTIST 28, SOUTH ALABAMA 26The fourth set would prove to be a thriller as it would go extra points. Houston Baptist held as much as five-point advantage at 17-12 after a Wooten putaway, but the Jaguars battled back.
Trailing 22-19, South Alabama pushed across three-straight points and tied the set up at 22-22 on a HBU attack error.
The Jaguars were able to fight off three-set points by the Huskies, but Houston Baptist eventually picked up the final two points and took the set 28-26 on another kill by Wooten, her seventh of the fourth set.
SET FIVE: SOUTH ALABAMA 18, HOUSTON BAPTIST 16South Alabama raced out to an 8-2 lead in the fifth and final set as Chappell dropped in two more aces and Richardson added two kills of her own, but like most of the match, the Huskies would continue to fight.
Trailing 11-4, HBU rattled off seven of the next eight points and pulled within one (12-11) on another kill by Wooten. The Huskies later tied the set up and held match point on two different occasions, the last coming at 16-15, but South Alabama captured the final three points of the match to rally back and win the fifth set, 18-16. Daniel began the pivotal rally with a kill. Richardson and Anderson then teamed up to block a HBU attack. Richardson then clinched the comeback with her eighth kill of the night.
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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