Box Score (PDF)

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team defeated Georgia State in straight sets (25-18, 25-18, 25-20) Saturday in Sun Belt Conference action at Jag Gym.

USA (7-10, 1-3 Sun Belt) will return to action Fri., Oct. 5, when it travels to Monroe, La., for a Sun Belt Conference match at 6:30 p.m. with ULM.
 
GAME FACTS
- USA faced a 6-5 deficit early in the opening set before going on a 5-0 scoring run, highlighted by kills from Iva Durdanovic and Hannah Johnson and a block by Kelley Hartman, to take a 10-6. USA closed the set with a 4-0 run and earned set point at 24-18 on a Panther attack error. The Jags clinched the set 25-18 on a kill by Parker Harrell to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
- South Alabama opened the second set with a 4-0 scoring run, aided by three Panther errors, for a four-point advantage. GSU (4-9, 1-2 Sun Belt) answered with a 4-0 run to take an 8-7 lead. A 5-0 Jaguar run, highlighted by kills from Morgan Stalcup and Rachael DeMarcus, to take a 16-12 lead. A 6-0 Panther run gave GSU an 18-16 advantage, but the Jags answered with a 7-0 scoring run, highlighted by kills from DeMarcus and Durdanovic and a pair of block-assists by Stalcup and Lauren Hartman, to take a 23-18 lead. USA earned set point at 24-18 on a kill by Lauren Hartman, and clinched the set 25-18 on a service ace by Arissa Chappell to take a 2-0 lead in the match. 
- USA held a 15-11 lead midway through the third set after a kill by Harrell, but GSU responded with a 3-0 run to cut the Jaguar lead to 15-14. A kill by Stalcup and service ace from Chappell later in the set pushed the USA advantage 20-16. South Alabama earned match point at 24-19 on a kill from Kelley Hartman, and clinched the match 25-20 on a kill by Hannah Johnson.

NOTES
- Harris finished with a team-high nine kills and posted a .467 hitting percentage in addition to one dig and two block-assists.
- Durdanovic recorded eight kills, one assist, 12 digs and one block-assist, and Johnson added seven kills, .500 hitting percentage and one dig.
- The Jags recorded a .313 team hitting percentage, while the Panthers finished with a .078 hitting percentage.
- DeMarcus finished with a team-high 16 assists, along with six digs and four kills. Harrell added 12 assists, eight digs and two kills.
- USA snapped a four-match losing skid with the win, and extended its winning streak against Georgia State to three matches.

QUOTES
Head Coach Amy Hendrichovsky
- On the team's response from last night's loss:
"We had a good talk last night, and I thought they focused on what we talked about last night as a team. It really just comes down to us executing and staying focused on our skill, then the rest will come."

- On carrying momentum in forward:
"We need to take it one match at a time and stay focused on our next opponent. We just need to stay focused on getting better every week, and improving our skills and individual skills. We've been playing better as a team, we're bringing more passion and we have our skill. Those three things are how we execute South Alabama volleyball."

UP NEXT
South Alabama will return to action Fri., Oct. 5, when it travels to Monroe, La., for a Sun Belt Conference match at 6:30 p.m. with ULM.

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.