Box score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team fell to Samford Saturday in straight sets (25-14, 25-18, 25-22) at the Marriott Invitational at Pete Hanna Center.
Samford (2-1) hit .370 in three sets, led by Kate Neisler who recorded 13 kills along with a .478 hitting percentage. Erin Bognar posted a game-high 20 kills and hit .474 in three sets.
The Bulldogs took set one from USA 25-14. South Alabama (2-1) held a 6-5 lead early in the set, but Samford rallied for five straight points to build a 10-6 advantage. The Bulldogs pushed their lead to eight points at 19-11 following a second five-point rally, and scored six of the final nine points to take set one.
USA fell behind early in set two, but rebounded to tie the score 6-6 after consecutive kills by Sarah Richardson and Mechell Daniel. The Jags then took their first lead of the set on the next play on a service ace from Iva Durdanovic. Samford tied the score at 8-8, then scored six of the next seven points to build a 14-9 advantage. Samford extended its lead to seven points, 23-16, late in the set before clinching set two with back-to-back kills Gabbie Greenwald and Bogner.
South Alabama jumped out to a 2-0 lead in set three, and later built a 9-4 lead after a five-point rally that was highlighted by two kills by Durdanovic and a service ace by Daniel. USA held a 16-10 lead, but Samford then scored seven of the next eight points to tie the score 17-17. The Jags took their final lead of the set when a kill by Lauren Hartman gave them a 19-18 advantage. Samford then reeled off five consecutive points to take a 23-19 lead. South Alabama cut the Bulldog lead to one point – 23-22 – after a pair of Samford errors and a kill by Daniel. But SU clinched the match with consecutive kills by Greenwald and Bogner.
Daniel led the Jaguars with nine kills and also recorded two block assists, while Durdanovic finished with seven kills, two service aces and one block assist. Richardson added five kills and three block assists.
South Alabama will return to action next weekend when it hosts Florida A&M, Florida International and Southeastern Louisiana in the Jaguar Invitational Sept. 2-3 at Jag Gym.
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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