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MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team defeated Little Rock in four sets (25-21, 19-25, 25-14, 25-15) Friday in Sun Belt Conference action at Jag Gym.

USA (14-5, 9-0 SBC) extended its SBC winning streak to nine matches with the victory, while also claiming its sixth straight home win dating back to Sept. 2. The Jaguars tied the program record with their ninth Sun Belt Conference win of the season, and retained its spot atop the SBC East Division standings entering Sunday's match. It marked USA's second straight win over Little Rock dating back to last season, and the first at Jag Gym since 2010.

South Alabama will return to action Sun., Oct. 22, when it hosts Arkansas State at 12:30 p.m. at Jag Gym.  

GAME FACTS
- USA used a 4-0 scoring run midway through the opening set, highlighted by a service ace from Arissa Chappell and kill from Kristina Alabastro,  to take a 16-13 lead. But the Trojans answered with a 3-0 scoring run later in the set for an 18-17 advantage.
- The Jags went on another 4-0 scoring run, highlighted by a pair of Trojan attack errors, a kill by Parker Harrell and block assist by Hannah Harris and Morgan Stalcup, to take a 22-20 lead in set one.
- USA earned set point at 24-21 in the opening set on a Trojan attack error, and clinched the set on second straight Little Rock error for a 25-21 win after closing the set on another 3-0 scoring run.
- The Jags posted just a .079 hitting percentage in the opening set, but the Trojans hit just .057 in set one.
- Kelley Hartman led the Jags with three kills in opening set, while Stalcup led the team with three total blocks.
- The opening-set win marked South Alabama's 10th consecutive set win dating back to the Troy match on Oct. 7 in Troy, Ala.
- USA used a 5-0 scoring run early in the second set, highlighted by a service ace from Ashlyn Roberts and a kill from Hannah Harris, to take an 11-7 lead. 
- The Trojans went on a 5-0 scoring run late in set two to earn set point at 24-19, and clinched the set on a kill from Veronica Marin for a 25-19 win to even the match at 1-1. It marked the Jags' first set loss since they dropped the opening set in an Oct. 7 win at Troy.
- USA went on a 6-0 scoring run late in the third set, highlighted by a kill from Hartman and service ace by Chappell, for a 21-13 lead. 
- The Jags earned set point at 24-14 in set three on a Trojan attack error, and clinched the set at 25-14 on a second consecutive Little Rock error to take a 2-1 lead in the match. 
- Little Rock opened set four on a 4-0 scoring run, aided by three Jaguar attack errors, for a four-point advantage. But USA answered with a 4-0 scoring run, highlighted by a pair of kills from Harris and one kill by Hartman, to tie the set at 4-4. 
- South Alabama took an 21-12 lead in set four, aided by a 7-0 scoring run that featured a pair of kills by Harris.
- The Jags earned match point in the fourth set at 24-15 on a kill by Meaghan Jones, and clinched the match on a kill by Alabastro on an assist from Kellyn Reeves.

NOTES
- Harris tied a career high with nine kills, while also posting a .318 hitting percentage and three block assists.
- Harrell recorded her second double-double of the season with a team-leading 17 assists along with 13 digs. 
- Chappell tied a season high with four service aces, and also recorded 13 digs.
- Baker led the Jaguars with 19 digs, and also recorded five assists.
- The Jaguars finished with 13 total team blocks, which marked the 13th match this season they have recorded 10 or more blocks.
- South Alabama dropped the third set to Little Rock, which marked just the fourth set the Jaguars have lost in conference matches this season. 
- USA tied the program record for SBC wins (9) in a season, which was set in head coach Amy Hendrichovsky's second season in 2013 when the Jags won nine league matches.

QUOTES
Head Coach Amy Hendrichovsky
- On the win:
"I thought Little Rock played well and had a good game plan, and forced our girls to really work through some stuff. I thought Kellyn (Reeves) came off the bench and made a difference offensively for our team. One benefit for us is that we have people on the bench who can easily play on any given night, and I thought she came in and made a difference for us in the third and fourth sets." 

- On the defense:
"Little Rock covered well in the first couple of sets, but then as the match wore on the balls started to fall. Our team is a strong defensive team. I thought they (Little Rock) handled it well early, but as we kept doing it they kind of let go a little bit. I was happy that our defense stayed driven and focused. Usually if you give us some time to work through it we'll figure it out."

- On tying the program record for conference wins:
"When I came here the inspiration was to kind of build this program, and every year our team has bought in to that part of it. This team is playing free and they're having fun. They are a very determined group, and we're just trying to stay focused and build ourselves for the end of the season. It's not how we're doing now, it's how we're doing at the end of the season; we have bigger goals. It's awesome for our team and the program, and I am happy for it. It was great to have the stands full of fans tonight, and I hope we have them on Sunday because we really need them."

UP NEXT
South Alabama will return to action Sun., Oct. 22, when it hosts Arkansas State at 12:30 p.m. at Jag Gym.  

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with USAJaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at Twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Rally Score Club, the volleyball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All donations to the Rally Score Club go directly to support the South Alabama volleyball program. For more information on how you can join visit:  jaguarathleticfund.com/rallyscoreclub.