Box Score (PDF)
MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team fell to Appalachian State in four sets (17-25, 25-21, 23-25, 17-25) in a Sun Belt Conference East Division match Sunday at Jag Gym.
The match marked the end of the regular season schedule for both schools. USA (13-16, 7-9 Sun Belt) will return to action Thu., Nov. 15, when it opens play at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Atlanta.
GAME FACTS
- Appalachian State held a 9-7 lead early in the opening set, but the Jaguars went on a 5-0 scoring run, which featured kills by Lauren Hartman and Hannah Harris, to take a 12-9 lead. Later in the set, a solo block by Hannah Johnson pushed the USA advantage to 14-12. But the Mountaineers responded with a 10-1 run that featured three kills by Kara Spicer to take a 22-15 lead. App State earned set point at 24-16 on a Jaguar ball-handling error, and clinched the set 25-17 on a Jaguar attack error to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
- The Mountaineers jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second set. USA later used a 3-0 run, which featured kills by Hartman and Iva Durdanovic, to take a 15-14 lead. A kill by Meaghan Jones later in the set pushed the Jaguar lead to 21-18. A 3-1 App State run cut the South Alabama lead to one point at 22-21, but the Jags closed the set with a 3-0 run, earning set point at 24-21 on a kill by Hartman and clinching the set 25-21 on a block-assist by Hartman and Kaira Hunnicutt to even the match at one set apiece.
- App State built a three-point lead late in set three after a kill by Grace Morrison pushed the Mountaineer advantage to 20-17. USA answered with a 3-0 run on a kill by Johnson, a solo block by Jones and block-assist from Hunnicutt and Parker Harrell to tie the score at 20-20. A kill by Emma Longley gave the Mountaineers a 22-21 lead, but consecutive kills by Hartman and Jones gave the lead back to the Jaguars at 23-22. App State responded with a 3-0 run to close the set, earning set point at 24-23 on a block-assist by Longley and Amya Giger, and clinching the set 25-23 on a Jaguar attack error for a 2-1 lead in the match.
- App State went on a 5-0 run midway through the fourth set to take a 15-6 lead. A 4-0 Jaguar run later in the set, which featured kills by Johnson and Jones, and service ace from Durdanovic, cut the Mountaineer lead to 16-11. A 3-0 run by App State extended its lead to 23-13 before the Mountaineers earned match point at 24-16 on a kill by Jana Owens. App State clinched the set and match at 25-17 on a kill by Melissa McMath.
NOTES
- Durdanovic posted a season-high 13 digs, and also added nine kills, .292 hitting percentage, four assists, one service ace and one block.
- Jones finished with a team-high 12 kills in addition to two total blocks.
- Hartman tied her season high in kills (9), and also added two total blocks.
- Hunnicutt finished with a career-high nine kills, five digs and four total blocks.
- Ashlyn Roberts recorded a team-high 17 digs along with five assists, while Katelyn Lochner posted 14 kills and one service ace.
- App State's McMath finished with a game-high 15 kills, .448 hitting percentage, two digs and one block.
- Four Jaguar seniors were honored in a pre-game ceremony as part of Senior Day: Kristina Alabastro, Arissa Chappell, Parker Harrell and Katelyn Lochner.
QUOTES
Head Coach Amy Hendrichovsky
- On the match:
"We made some changes to the lineup, and I wanted to see how people would take advantage of the opportunity going in to this week (Sun Belt Conference Championships). I am really proud of some of those who were consistent in their roles, and how they were able to step up. It was good to see the fight out of our team in set two; we fought back in every set, it just came down to us making two aggressive plays in the third set and it just didn't fall our way. The match that is most important is this Thursday, and I wanted to prepare for that.
- On what the four seniors have meant to the program:
"I have a lot of passion and love for this group. I feel like they really came in and brought a lot of fun and positivity to the program; they were a big part of changing things, culturally, behind the scenes. They have a strong commitment to this program, and I appreciate all of them for that. I really hope we can finish these last couple of weeks in a way that honors them."
UP NEXT
South Alabama will return to action Thu., Nov. 15, when it opens play at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Atlanta.
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.
—USA—
