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MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team fell to Texas State in five sets (18-25, 25-19, 25-21,18-25, 15-12) in Sun Belt Conference action Sunday at Jag Gym.

TXST (8-8, 2-0 SBC) rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the match after South Alabama (9-6, 0-2 SBC) won sets two and three, 25-19 and 25-21, respectively. The Bobcats forced a fifth and deciding set with a 25-18 win in set four, and won the match with a 15-12 win in set five.

Texas State built a 12-7 lead in the fifth set before the Jaguars scored three of the next four points, highlighted by a service ace from Deanna Canfield and kill by Mechell Daniel, to cut their deficit to three at 13-10. USA scored twice on a Bobcat match point with a kill by Daniel and a TXST attack error to cut the Bobcat lead to 14-12. But a kill by Lauren Birch followed that sealed the set and the match for Texas State.

Daniel recorded season highs in kills (19) and digs (8) while also adding two block assists to lead the Jaguars. Iva Durdanovic finished with 12 kills, two digs and one block assist, while Nikki Gittens posted nine kills, two digs and three block assists. Kristina Alabastro added seven kills, six digs and five block assists. Abby Baker finished with 20 digs, and Emma Anderson recorded a double-double with 16 assists and 10 digs. Kellyn Reeves also recorded her first career double-double with 26 assists and 14 digs. 

Shelby Vas Matt finished with 13 kills, 14 digs and five block assists to lead the Bobcats. Kirch recorded 13 kills and six block assists.

After Texas State opened the match with a 25-18 set-one win, USA responded with a 25-19 win in set two to even the match. The Jags scored the first four points of the second set on a pair of kills by Daniel and a pair of Bobcat attack errors, and later pushed its lead to eight points at 17-9 following a kill by Daniel. A kill by Durdanovic later in the set extended the Jaguar lead to nine points at 21-12. Texas State scored five straight points to cut the USA lead to 22-18, but the Jags scored three of the next four points, including a kill by Alabastro on set point, to take the set.

USA built a three-point lead late in a closely-contested third set for a 22-19 advantage after scoring three consecutive points on a pair of kills by Daniel and a Bobcat attack error. A kill by Gittens and a Texas State ball-handling error closed the set for the Jaguars 25-21 for a 2-1 lead in the match.

TXST scored four straight points to break an 11-11 tie in set four for a 15-11 advantage. The Bobcats used another four-point rally later in the set to take a 22-16 lead, and closed the set at 25-18 to even the match on kills by Jaliyah Bolden and Erin Hoppe.

"It was a very well-played, defensive match," USA head coach Amy Hendrichovsky said. "Both teams were giving their best effort. Overall our team grew and we, in the match, got better at what we needed to get better at. I am proud of our effort and our team's fight. This was a really good match."

USA will return to action Fri., Sept. 30, with a 5:30 p.m. (CT) SBC contest at Georgia Southern. 

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).