Box score

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team defeated Florida A&M 3-1 Saturday at Jag Gym to win the Jaguar Invitational.

South Alabama (5-1) finished with a season-high 59 kills in the four-set win, led by Sarah Richardson who recorded a game- and career-high 13 kills and posted a .440 hitting percentage along with one block solo, six block assists and two digs. Richardson was named the most valuable player of the tournament after recording 23 kills and a .413 hitting percentage. Nikki Gittens was named to the all-tournament team, along with Katie Hogan (FIU), Elyssa Purcell (Southeastern Louisiana), Maria Yvett Garcia (Florida A&M) and Nicole Abreu (Florida A&M).

Iva Durdanovic finished with 11 kills, and Mechell Daniel added 10 kills and hit .421 in four sets. Kristina Alabastro recorded nine kills in 17 total attempts and a .412 hitting percentage along with four block assists. USA finished with 12 total blocks, and recorded 30 blocks in its three tournament wins.

The Jags opened the match with a 25-22 win in set one. South Alabama built a five-point lead at 16-11, but FAMU scored the next four points to cut its deficit to one. The Jags held a 17-16 lead before consecutive kills by Richardson pushed their lead to three. The Rattlers scored four consecutive points on a Jaguar set point to trim its deficit to two at 24-22, but a kill by Kelley Hartman followed to clinch set one.

South Alabama jumped out to a 12-2 lead in set two, highlighted by a pair of kills by Richardson and two service aces from Durdanovic. The Jags held a 16-6 lead later in the set before reeling off six consecutive points to stretch their lead to 22-6. USA scored three of the final four points of the set on kills by Durdanovic and Avery Cooper along with a FAMU attack error.

FAMU scored two consecutive points to take set three 28-26. USA held a 19-13 lead, but the Rattlers responded with five straight points to cut the Jag lead to one at 19-18. FAMU trailed USA by three, 23-20, but scored four consecutive points to take a 24-23 lead. USA equalized the score on a FAMU match point on a kill by Durdanovic to tie the score 25-25.  The Rattlers closed out the set on a kill by Dei'ja Martin and an attack error by Durdanovic.

USA built a 21-17 lead in set four, then scored three straight points – highlighted by kills from Richardson and Alabastro – to force a match point at 24-17. FAMU responded with four consecutive points to cut the USA lead to 24-21, but a kill by Daniel clinched the set and match.

"We came out and played really well in set one and two," USA head coach Amy Hendrichovsky said. "I think both teams were definitely fatigued with it being the third match in two days, but I thought we pushed through it. We let it get away from us in the third set, but they (FAMU) have some weapons of their own on that team who caught fire and we also had some unlucky moments. Overall we were able to maintain the composure to go in to set four, and it was a tight set. I am glad that Florida A&M pushed us and our team got to battle and fight through that."

South Alabama will return to action Tue., Sept., 6, when it hosts Southern Mississippi at 6 p.m. 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).