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MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team defeated Troy in four sets (25-18, 17-25, 25-22, 25-18) Friday in a Sun Belt Conference match at Trojan Arena.

South Alabama (20-8, 11-3 Sun Belt) moved into sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt East Division with the win, which marked Troy's only home loss of the season. USA will return to action Fri., Nov. 15, when it travels to Boone, N.C., for a Sun Belt Conference East Division match with Appalachian State at 5:30 p.m. (CT).

 GAME FACTS
- Troy held a 7-4 lead in set one before the Jaguars reeled off four straight points, featuring kills by Meaghan Jones and Iva Durdanovic, to take an 8-7 lead. USA then used a 6-0 scoring run, highlighted by a pair of solo blocks by Kelley Hartman and a service ace from Hannah Harris, later in the set to extend its lead to 19-12. USA later earned set point at 24-17 on a Trojan attack error, and clinched the set 25-18 on a Troy attack error to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
- The USA deficit was cut to one point at 4-3 early in set two following a Trojan service error, but Troy went on a 6-0 run to build a 9-3 lead. Troy later earned set point at 24-16 on a block-assist from Cheyenne Hayes and Halston Hiller, and clinched the set 25-17 on a kill by Ashley Guenveur to tie the match at 1-1.
- Troy jumped out to a 3-0 lead in set three, but a kill by Harris and solo block by Jones later tied the score at 4-4. The Trojans held a 6-5 lead after a kill by Guenveur, but USA responded with a 3-0 run, highlighted by a block-assist from Hannah Johnson and Durdanovic, and a kill by Jones, to take an 8-6 lead. The Jags held a 15-12 lead after a kill by Jones, but the Trojans went on a 3-0 run to tie the score at 15-15. Troy tied the score at 16-16 after a kill by Julia Brooks, but a Trojan service error and solo block by Durdanovic gave the Jaguars an 18-16 advantage. The Trojans tied the score 20-20 following a Jaguar attack error, but a kill then service ace by Harris gave South Alabama a 22-20 lead. The Jags earned set point at 24-21 on a Troy attack error, and clinched the set 25-22 on a block-assist by Johnson and Rachael DeMarcus for a 2-1 lead in the match.
- Troy cut the USA lead to 5-4 in set four on a kill by Caitlin Cooper, but the Jags went on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a pair of kills from Jones and one kill by Durdanovic, for a 11-4 lead. A kill by Durdanovic and Trojan attack error later pushed the USA lead to 17-7. Troy used a 3-0 run to cut its deficit to 17-10. USA pushed its lead to 21-12 following a kill by Jones and solo block by Durdanovic. The Trojans went on a 3-0 run to cut the Jag lead to 22-17, but a kill by Durdanovic pushed the USA advantage to 23-17. A service ace by Paige Lynn gave the Jags match point at 24-17, and a kill by Durdanovic clinched the set 25-18 and the match at 3-1.

NOTES
- South Alabama extended its win streak in the series to four matches with the victory. It also marked the third straight season the Jaguars have swept the series with the Trojans. USA has now won six straight regular-season matches over Troy. 
- The loss marked the Trojans' only home loss of the season.
- Durdanovic led the Jags with 16 kills, a .538 hitting percentage, one service ace, six digs and six total blocks.
- Jones finished with 11 kills, .258 hitting percentage, five digs and one block, while Hartman added 10 kills and four blocks.
- DeMarcus led the Jags with 42 assists, and also added nine digs and one block.
- Lynn led the team with 14 digs, in addition to three assists and one service ace.

QUOTES
Head Coach Alexis Meeks-Rydell
- On the win :
"This was just a fun match tonight. Troy ad a phenomenal crowd, and it was a gutsy match all the way through until the end. We took the momentum in the first set, then Troy stole it from us in the second set. I don't think either one of us played our best in the third set, but it was awesome to see our kids and their kids working through adjustments and grinding through every point. We had a couple of great offensive plays toward the end that then carried us into set four and our defense dominated from there. We look forward to these matches; this is why you play the sport – to have a rival and to lay it on the line for a position within the conference standings. I am so proud of our crew for staying composed tonight and executing at crucial times. We have a lot of kids stepping up in big moments, and it is enjoyable to watch them compete at this point in the season."

UP NEXT
South Alabama will return to action Fri., Nov. 15, when it travels to Boone, N.C., for a Sun Belt Conference East Division match with Appalachian State at 5:30 p.m. (CT).

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.