Date: 8/16
Position: Setters

Returning Letterwinners (Key stats): Rachael DeMarcus (28 kills, 669 assists, 6.83 aps, 9 service aces, 171 digs, 1.74 dps) 

Letterwinners lost (Key stats): Parker Harrell (33 kills, 457 assists, 5.13 aps, 10 service aces, 161 digs, 1.81 dps) 

Newcomers (Yr., Previous School):  Lillie Fromdahl (Fr., McGill-Toolen [Ala.] Catholic HS)

Miscellaneous Notes
- DeMarcus ranked eighth in the Sun Belt in assists per set (6.83) as a freshman in 2018. In league matches, DeMarcus finished eighth in the conference in assists per set (8.10).
- The Jaguars ranked fourth in the Sun Belt in service aces per set (1.28) last season, and ninth in assists per set (11.21). In conference matches, USA ranked fifth in service aces per set (1.18), and 11th in assists per set (11.03).
- DeMarcus' average of 6.83 assists per set is the highest by a Jaguar in a single season since Emma Anderson (8.75) in 2015. Her assist total of 669 is also the most by a Jag since Anderson's 866 assists in '15.
- Harrell led South Alabama with six double-doubles in 2018, followed by DeMarcus with five.
- DeMarcus was named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Week on Nov. 5, 2018, after recording 78 assists for an average of 11.14 assists per set in a pair of matches against Troy.
- DeMarcus posted a career-high 50 assists against Arkansas State last year in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
- Fromdahl helped lead McGill-Toolen Catholic High School to consecutive Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 7A state titles, and was named 2018 all-tournament. She was ranked No. 2 on the AL.com 2018 A-List of volleyball seniors in the state of Alabama. She earned American Volleyball Coaches Association Under Armour Girls High School All-America honorable mention as a senior, and was a 2017 AL.com Super All-State and All-Coastal team selection after recording 1,020 assists and 191 digs as a junior.
- South Alabama finished with a season-high 67 assists at Georgia Tech on Aug. 31 last season, which ranks tied for ninth (ULM, 2014) on the program's single-match record list.

Sophomore Rachael DeMarcus
- On her experience gained as a freshman:
"I gained a lot of valuable, high-level experience. Having Parker Harrell as a fifth-year senior last year and being able to learn little tricks that she has picked up through the years was really beneficial. During the spring I was the only setter, and Coach Meeks-Rydell really pushed me a lot; I feel like I made gains not just on the court, but a lot of things mentally off the court that really helped me make strides. Playing as a freshman last year really helped me to not be so nervous in the spring and coming into my sophomore season, just due to that game experience."

- On what excites her about this season:
"This is probably the first team that I've been on that has actually been a team. We love each other so much and feel so comfortable around each other. We have become very vulnerable with each other, and that has helped us grow a lot as a team."

- On the strengths of this year's team:
"Our team chemistry is really strong, and you have to have that to win a championship and accomplish your goals. Offensively, I feel like we have very athletic hitters and blockers who are in the front line that will strengthen us up there; our offense is pretty steady. Our defense and first touch on the ball has really increased since last year, and I feel like the first touch is the main key along with serve-receive and defense. We have really focused a lot on serve-receive, ball control and defense, and I've already seen a difference."

Head Coach Alexis Meeks-Rydell
- On DeMarcus' skill set:
"Rachael is such an easy kid to coach. In the spring, there were a lot of techniques and fundamentals I wanted to correct and teach her, and I never had to go over the same thing twice because she is so quick to learn. This fall we have really seen her confidence flourish, and you can tell that everyone is very comfortable playing around her. Rachael has the ability to connect with each of her teammates in a different way, and that is a hard trait to teach. We really need her to step up this fall and figure out how to run our offense on all cylinders, and we have complete faith that she can do that."

- On what freshman Lillie Fromdahl brings to the team:
"Lillie is the most athletic setter I have ever coached, and that is very exciting for us because of how fast our offense is. She is tremendous with her play calling and decision making, and we are working with her every day to get better at her connection with her attackers. There is no doubt that she has elevated our offense and she is way beyond 'her years' when it comes to her knowledge of how to run an offense." 

- On the importance of consistent play from the setters:
"There is no one that has to be more consistent than a setter; that goes from location of the ball to consistency in play calling. Especially when you have the potential to run an offense with multiple setters, you don't want to see a lot of difference between the two so your attackers don't have to make a ton of adjustments. We are fortunate that our setters work very well together and support each other, and I am excited to see where they take us."

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.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.