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MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team defeated Georgia Southern in five sets (25-14, 23-25, 20-25, 25-16, 15-10) Friday in Sun Belt Conference action at Jag Gym.

South Alabama (16-7, 7-2 Sun Belt) remained perfect at home this season with the win, moving to 12-0 in Jag Gym, and set a new program record for wins (12) in a single season, which broke the 1982 Jaguar team's previous record of 11.

USA will return to action Saturday when it hosts Georgia State in a Sun Belt Conference East Division match at 6:30 p.m. at Jag Gym.

 GAME FACTS
- Georgia Southern tied the score at 5-5 in set one before the Jaguars went on a 10-0 scoring run, highlighted by two block-assists from Lauren Hartman and Hannah Johnson, and kills by Meaghan Jones, Lauren Hartman and Johnson, to take a 15-5 lead. USA scored the final three points of the set, with Harris recording consecutive kills to earn set point and clinch the set for a 1-0 lead in the match.
- The Jags jumped out to a 4-0 lead in set two after a kill by Lauren Hartman, block-assist by Lauren Hartman and Kelley Hartman, an Eagle attack error and block-assist from Kelley Hartman and Hannah Johnson. Georgia Southern tied the score at 18-18 later in the set, but the Jags went on a 3-0 scoring run that featured kills by Lauren Hartman and Johnson for a 21-18 advantage. The Eagles answered with a 4-0 run to take a 22-21 lead. A kill by Kelley Hartman later tied the score at 23-23, but Georgia Southern scored the final two points of the set to even the match at one set apiece.
- A kill by Jones early in set three cut the Jaguar deficit to one point at 9-8, but the Eagles responded with a 3-0 run to take a 12-8 lead. USA used a 3-0 run later in the set, highlighted by a kill from Lauren Hartman and service ace by Jones, to cut the Eagle lead to 21-18. Georgia Southern later earned set point at 24-19 on a kill by Skylar Ball, and clinched the set 25-20 on a kill by Maddie Bryant to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
- A Jaguar service error early in set four cut the Jaguar lead to one point at 4-3, but USA went on a 5-0 run that featured three kills by Johnson for a 9-3 lead. The Jags later used an 8-1 scoring run, highlighted by two kills and a pair of service aces by Harris, to build a 17-6 advantage. South Alabama earned set point at 24-16 on an Eagle service error, and clinched the set 25-16 on a Georgia Southern attack error to even the match at two sets apiece.
- South Alabama jumped out to a 3-0 lead in set five after an Eagle service error, and consecutive kills from Hannah Maddux and Kelley Hartman. The Eagles answered with a 3-0 run to tie the score, but the Jags went on a 4-0 run to take a 7-3 lead. A Jaguar attack error later in the set cut the Eagle deficit to one point at 10-9, but consecutive kills from Harris and Johnson pushed the USA advantage to 12-9. USA scored the final three points of the set, earning match point at 14-10 on a kill by Maddux, and clinched the match 15-10 on a solo block by Kelley Hartman.

NOTES
- Two Jaguars recorded double-doubles in the match. Harris finished with 13 kills and 18 digs, along with three assists, three service aces and two total blocks, while Rachael DeMarcus recorded a game-high 46 assists and 12 digs. It marked Harris' second double-double in as many matches, dating back to last weekend's match at Texas State.
-  Kelley Hartman finished with 13 kills, .476 hitting percentage, one assist, one service ace, six digs and four total blocks.
- Jones added 12 kills, .321 hitting percentage, one service ace and three digs, while Lauren Hartman finished with nine kills, .333 hitting percentage, three digs and four total blocks.
- USA recorded a .278 team hitting percentage, while the Eagles finished with a .171 hitting percentage.
- The Jaguars set a new single-season program record for home wins (12), which broke the 1982 Jaguar team's previous record of 11.

QUOTES
Head Coach Alexis Meeks-Rydell
- On the win:
"I thought we played really well in the first set. We came out super strong and confident and were taking big swings and doing well. We had to mix up the lineup a little bit in the second set, which was fine, but they (Georgia Southern) picked it up big time and were super offensive. They started picking it up from the service line, and our serve receive struggled in sets two and three. When we're not in system, and they are a very good blocking team too, we're going to struggle a little bit. We made another switch going into the fourth set – I just thought we needed more energy and confidence out there. We played with three freshman, and those kids are just fearless. And because they were fearless, it made everybody else around them fearless as well. I couldn't be more proud of them, but also the team for having to keep overcoming multiple lineup changes and Georgia Southern playing so well. They (Georgia Southern) played so well; their defense was unbelievable tonight. They were super scrappy, their blocking was very good and their middles played excellent. I'm super proud of our team for sticking in it. What I am most proud of is we played to win in sets four and five. I felt like in sets two and three we were playing not to lose. They picked up their game and we were really hesitant. We just had to switch our mindset a little bit."

- On setting a program single-season record for home wins:
"Comfortable is usually a bad word, but to me in this instance, it's actually a good word. They're comfortable in here which makes them confident. We had a really good practice yesterday, and I think that translated into today. I think the biggest thing with them this year is we just keep having conversations. But it is going to be another tough match tomorrow. It doesn't get any easier from here. Every team is supposed to get better at the end of the season. Teams are either trying to get into the conference tournament, or trying to knock people off. Nobody is going to come into anybody's gym and play sloppy, so our challenge is how we will respond to that and handle it."

UP NEXT
South Alabama will return to action Sat., Oct. 26, when it hosts Georgia State at 6:30 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.