2018 Jaguar Invitational Schedule
2018 Volleyball Promotional Schedule

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team will host the Jaguar Invitational Sept. 7-8 at Jag Gym.

USA (1-5) will host Southeastern Louisiana at 11:30 a.m. Friday morning, and will face Mississippi State at 7 p.m. Friday evening. The Jaguars will cap the tournament with a 2:30 p.m. match Saturday afternoon with Louisiana Tech. Live streaming for every match will be available at JagNationTV.com, while live stats for every match will be available through the multimedia section at USAJaguars.com.

South Alabama enters the weekend on a four-game losing skid after dropping all three matches at last weekend's Hyatt Regency Invitational in Atlanta. The Jags rank fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in service aces per set (1.44), but are last in the league in blocks per set (1.68) after leading the conference in the category last season. 

Middle blocker Kelley Hartman ranks fourth in the Sun Belt in hitting percentage (.372) and service aces per set (0.44), and sixth in kills per set (3.16). Hartman recorded a career-high 20 kills at Georgia Tech last weekend.

Senior setter Parker Harrell ranks seventh in the conference in assists per set (7.80), while defensive specialist Ashlyn Roberts enters the week ranked 10th in the league in digs per set (3.22).

Southeastern Louisiana (1-5) enters the week having dropped four straight matches after fallilng to Albany, Hofstra and Army last weekend in the Black Knights Invitational in West Point, N.Y. The Lions fell to Hofstra in Army in straight sets to cap the tournament. SLU is averaging 9.90 kills per set, 9.10 assists per set, 12.80 digs per set and 1.50 blocks per set.

Mississippi State (2-5) has dropped five of its last six matches entering the tournament. The Bulldogs fell to Clemson and Davidson last weekend before defeating Appalachian State in straight sets to close the week. MSU fell to Sun Belt members ULM and Georgia State, both in four sets, on the opening weekend of the season. The Bulldogs average 12.44 kills per set, 11.59 assists per set, 17.63 digs per set and 1.93 blocks per set.

Louisiana Tech (1-6) has also dropped four straight matches entering the weekend, after falling to Eastern Washington twice, and once each to North Dakota and Western Carolina at the North Dakota Tournament in Grand Forks, N.D. Louisiana Tech is averaging 12.10 kills per set, 11.40 assists per set, 15.40 digs per set and 1.30 blocks per set.

The Jaguar Invitational will feature promotional giveaways for every USA match this weekend. Free donuts will be provided, as long as they last, at the 11:30 a.m. match on Friday with Southeastern Louisiana. An autograph schedule poster giveaway will be featured for the Friday evening match against Mississippi State at 7 p.m. Saturday's 2:30 p.m. match with Louisiana Tech will feature a magnet schedule giveaway.

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 South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics. Contributions to South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give.