Box Score (PDF)

MONROE, La. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team defeated ULM in straight sets (25-6, 26-24, 25-21) Friday in Sun Belt Conference action at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. 

The win marked the Jaguars' second straight in Sun Belt play. USA (8-10, 2-3 Sun Belt) will return to action Saturday when it faces Louisiana at 6:30 p.m. at Earl K. Long Gym in Lafayette, La.
 
GAME FACTS
- After ULM (7-11, 0-5 Sun Belt) scored the first point of the match on a Jaguar attack error, USA went on a 14-0 scoring run, highlighted by two kills apiece from Iva Durdanovic and Lauren Hartman, to take a 14-1 lead. The Jags went on a 7-0 run later in the set that featured a block by Lauren Hartman, kill from Durdanovic and service ace by Ashlyn Roberts for a 21-3 advantage. USA earned set point at 24-6 on a kill by Kelley Hartman, and clinched the set 25-6 on a kill by Hannah Harris to take a 1-0 lead in the match. 
- South Alabama faced a 16-14 deficit midway through the second set, but went on a 6-0 scoring run to take a 20-16 lead. ULM went on a 5-0 scoring run later in the set to tie the score at 22-22. USA earned set point at 24-22 on a Warhawk ball-handling error, but ULM answered with two straight points to tie the score at 24. A kill by Lauren Hartman gave the Jags set point at 25-24, and a kill by Arissa Chappell clinched the set 26-24 for a 2-0 Jaguar lead in the match.
- ULM tied the score at 19-19 late in the third set on a Jaguar error, but the Jags reeled off two straight points to take a 21-19 lead. USA earned match point at 24-21 on a kill by Lauren Hartman, and clinched the match 25-21 on a kill by Kelley Hartman.  

NOTES
- The Jags posted a .476 team hitting percentage in the opening set with 12 kills and two errors on 21 total attacks. - USA posted a .319 hitting percentage in the match while ULM finished with a .115 team hitting percentage.
- Morgan Stalcup recorded eight kills, a .727 hitting percentage, one solo block and four block-assists to lead the Jaguars. Durdanovic finished with eight kills, three assists, six digs and one block-assist, while Harris posted eight kills, two digs and one block-assist.
- Rachael DeMarcus led the Jags with 19 assists, along with two kills and eight digs. Parker Harrell added 10 assists, one kill and three digs.
- ULM's Mikaela Worley finished with a game-high 11 kills to lead the Warhawks.
- USA improved its all-time record against ULM to 12-7 with the win.

QUOTES
Head Coach Amy Hendrichovsky
- On the 14-0 scoring run in the opening set:
"Arissa Chappell came in and definitely set the tone, and a lot of it was our block and defense was very focused and we executed. I thought it (scoring run) really set the tone. ULM came back and fought us hard in sets two and three, but our team maintained composure through their push and that's what we've been talking about the last couple of weeks."

- On Saturday's match at Louisiana:
"Taking care of the ball on our side of the net and staying focused on our individual roles and skill set is what has really been helping us as a team. When we focus on that and keep the other things off to the side then we play really well together."

UP NEXT
South Alabama will return to action Saturday when it travels to Lafayette, La., for a 6:30 p.m. match against Louisiana at Earl K. Long 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.