Box Score

ATLANTA – The University of South Alabama fell in five sets (20-25, 23-25, 28-26, 25-23, 12-15) to Georgia State Friday in Sun Belt Conference action at GSU Sports Arena.

GSU swept the three-match series with the win, which extended the Jaguars' losing skid to five matches. South Alabama fell behind in the match 2-0 before rallying to take sets three and four to force a fifth set, which the Panthers secured 15-12. Jaguar outside hitter Hannah Maddux recorded a career-high 27 kills in the match, marking the most by a Jaguar since Kelley Hartman's 29 kills at Georgia State last season. 

GAME FACTS
- South Alabama took a 4-3 lead in set one on a kill by Rebecca Walk, but Georgia State went on a 3-0 scoring run to take a 6-4 lead. The Jags cut their deficit to 8-7 after a kill by Walk, but a 4-1 Panther run pushed the GSU lead to 12-8. USA cut the Panther lead to 15-12 following consecutive kills from Hannah Maddux and Hannah Harris. A block-assist by Maddux and Maddie Soboleski, and a kill by Maddux cut the Jaguar deficit to 22-19. GSU later earned set point at 24-20 on a kill by Cierra Sillmon, and clinched the set 25-20 on a kill by Leah Wilcox to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
- South Alabama went on a 3-0 run in set two, highlighted by a kill by Meaghan Jones, to take a 3-1 lead. USA took a 6-5 lead on a bad set by GSU's Jordan Shoemaker, but the Panthers took a 7-6 lead on consecutive Jaguar attack errors. GSU then used a 3-0 run to build a 10-7 advantage. USA cut the Panther lead to 10-9 on a kill by Maddux and block-assist from Walk and Maddux. The Jags tied the score 13-13 after a kill and service ace by Maddux. A kill by Hannah Johnson tied the score 14-14 before consecutive kills from Hannah Harris capped a 3-0 Jaguar run for a 16-14 USA advantage. But GSU answered with a 3-0 run to take a 17-16 lead. USA took a 23-19 lead after a 4-0 run that featured kills by Walk and Maddux, and a block-assist by Maddux and Walk. GSU responded with a 5-0 run to earn set point at 24-23 on a block by Clara Bednarek, and clinched the set 25-23 on a kill by Bednarek for a 2-0 lead in the match.
- South Alabama took a 6-5 lead in set three after a Panther service error and kill by Maddux. GSU tied the score 7-7 on a Jaguar service error, but USA took a 9-7 lead after a kill by Maddux and attack error by Wilcox. Consecutive kills by Bednarek tied the score 9-9. South Alabama took a 14-12 lead after a Panther service error and attack error. GSU responded with a 5-0 run to take a 16-14 lead, but the Jags tied the score 16-16 on a kill by Soboleski and Panther attack error. USA took a 21-18 lead with a 4-0 run that featured a kill by Maddux and block-assist by Johnson and Maddux. The Panthers responded with a 5-0 run to earn match point at 24-23 on a Jaguar attack error, but the Jags tied it 24-24 on a Panther attack error. GSU earned match point at 25-24 on a kill by Erin Wyatt, but a kill by Maddux tied the score 25-25. The Panthers earned match point 26-25 on a kill by Meisheia Griffin, but the Jags tied the score 26-26 on a kill by Soboleski. A block-assist by Walk and Maddux gave the Jags set point at 27-26, and USA clinched the set 28-26 on a kill by Walk. 
- The Jags doubled their lead at 4-2 in set four on a block-assist by Maddux and Johnson, but the Panthers answered with a 5-0 scoring run for a 7-4 advantage. USA responded with a 4-0 run, highlighted by a kill by Jones and service ace from Maddux, for an 8-7 lead. USA used an 8-0 run, highlighted by two kills by Walk and a block-assist from Soboleski and Walk, for a 17-11 lead. The Panthers went on a 5-1 run to cut the Jaguar lead to 19-16, but a block-assist by Maddux and Walk and kill by Jones capped a 3-0 run and pushed the USA advantage to 21-16. USA earned set point at 24-21 on a service ace by Maddux, and clinched the set 25-23 on a kill by Jones to even the match at two sets apiece.
- The Panthers opened set five with a 3-0 scoring run for a 3-0 lead, but the Jags answered with a 5-0 run that featured a pair of kills by Maddux for a 5-3 lead. GSU then used a 4-0 run for a 7-5 advantage. Kills by Wyatt and Wilcox, and a service ace by Dzemila Hadzic capped a 3-0 GSU run and pushed the Panther lead to 10-6. The Jags used a Panther service error and attack error to cut their deficit to 10-8. Consecutive Panther attack errors cut the Panther lead to 13-12. GSU earned match point at 14-12 on a block by Sillmon and Wyatt, and clinched the set and match on a service ace by Ava Vlkovic.

NOTES
- Maddux set career highs in kills and blocks, finishing with 27 kills and nine total blocks, along with eight digs and three service aces. Her 27 kills were the most by a Jaguar since Kelley Hartman recorded 29 kills on Oct. 4, 2019, at Georgia State.
- Walk added 12 kills, a .333 hitting percentage and a career-high eight total blocks.
- Soboleski posted her ninth double-double of the season, finishing with a career-high 50 assists and 14 digs, while also adding four kills and three total blocks.
- Rachel Hickey recorded a career-high 29 digs, and also added four assists.
- South Alabama finished with 13 total team blocks, while the Panthers totaled 11 team blocks.
- The loss extended the Jaguars' losing skid to five matches. 

QUOTES
Head Coach Alexis Meeks-Rydell
- On the weekend:
"First, I have to give credit to Georgia State. They played very clean and organized volleyball this weekend, and took advantage of our weaker areas. Yesterday was not a good day for us, and we struggled in a lot of areas so we had to make a choice when we woke up this morning on whether we were going to fight or give in, and we chose to fight. No, the outcome was not what we wanted and we let set two slip out of our hands. That ultimately made a difference, but I am proud of us for getting back on the right track today. We are thankful for the bye week to rest our bodies and work out some of the areas we are lacking in before we head to tackle the conference tournament."

UP NEXT
South Alabama will return to action Wed., Nov. 18, when it opens play at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Foley, Ala. 

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