FOLEY, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team defeated UT Arlington in four sets (22-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-8) Saturday in the Sun Belt Conference Championship semifinal at Foley Sports Complex.

South Alabama (24-6) extended its win streak to 12 games with the victory, and secured a spot in Sunday's SBC Championship final against the winner of Texas State and Coastal Carolina.

GAME FACTS
Set 1
- UTA used a 3-0 scoring run to jump out to a 4-1 lead, but USA answered with a 3-0 run that featured block-assists by Niki Capizzi and Hannah Maddux and Capizzi and Maddie Soboleski to tie the score 4-4.
- A kill by Maddux and block-assist from Capizzi and Maddux cut the UTA lead to 12-10.
- The Jags cut the UTA lead to 16-14 on a kill by Bradford, but consecutive Maverick kills pushed the UTA lead to 18-14.
- The Mavericks used a 4-0 run to extend their lead to 20-14.
- A kill by Maddux and block-assist from Wallace and Soboleski cut the UTA advantage to 20-16.
- The Mavericks earned set point at 24-18 on a kill by Briana Brown, but the Jags went on a 4-0 run, highlighted by a service ace from Soboleski, to cut the UTA lead to 24-22. UTA clinched the set 25-22 on a kill by Nya Blair for a 1-0 lead.

Set 2
- The Jags took a 4-1 lead with a 3-0 run that included kills by Soboleski and Maddux.
- UTA then used a 3-0 run to tie the score 4-4.
- USA took a 10-7 lead with a 3-0 run that was highlighted by a block-assist from Maddux and Wallace.
- The Mavericks took an 11-10 lead with a 4-0 run.
- A service ace by Soboleski cut the UTA lead to one at 15-14.
- UTA held a 16-14 lead before USA used a 3-0 run, highlighted by a block-assist from Wallace and Bradford, to take a 17-16 lead.
- A Jaguar service error tied the score 17-17 before South Alabama went on a 5-0 run that featured a service ace by Kailey Keeble to take a 23-17 lead.
- USA earned set point at 24-18 on a kill by Bradford, and clinched the set 25-19 on a block-assist by Wallace and Soboleski to tie the match 1-1.

Set 3
- South Alabama went on a 3-0 run that included kills by Soboleski and Capizzi to tie the score 5-5.
- UTA took a 12-11 lead with a 3-0 run, but a kill by Soboleski, Maverick attack error and block-assist from Soboleski and Capizzi gave USA a 14-12 advantage.
- UTA tied the score 17-17 on a kill by Nya Blair, but a kill by Bradford gave the Jags an 18-17 lead.
- The score was tied 20-20 before a 3-0 Jaguar run that featured a service ace by Paige Lynn gave USA a 23-20 lead.
- South Alabama earned set point at 24-20 on a UTA ball-handling error, and clinched the set 25-21 on a kill by Capizzi for a 2-1 lead.

Set 4
- A pair of kills by Soboleski and one by Maddux gave the Jags a 3-0 lead.
- South Alabama took a 12-2 lead with an 8-0 run that included two kills by Capizzi and a service ace from Soboleski.
- USA pushed its lead to 15-3 with a 3-0 run that featured kills by Capizzi and Bradford, and a service ace from Capizzi.
- The Jags went on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a solo block by Soboleski and service ace by Madisen Werdell, to take a 22-5 lead.
- South Alabama earned match point at 24-7 on a Maverick attack error, and clinched the set 25-8 on a kill by Soboleski.

NOTES 
- South Alabama earned the program's first-ever trip to the SBC Championship final with the win.
- The Jaguars recorded a season-high 14 total team blocks.
- Keeble recorded her 18th double-double of the season, finishing with 52 assists and 15 digs along with one service ace.
- Capizzi tied her career high in kills with 14 and hit .440 with one service ace, one dig and seven block-assists.
- Soboleski and Bradford added 12 kills apiece; Bradford also posted a .455 hitting percentage.
- Rachel Hickey led the Jags with 21 digs, and also added two assists.

QUOTES
Head Coach Jesse Ortiz
- On the win:
"I thought we did a good job of digging out, but first credit to UTA; they came in and took us down that first set and took us back to earth a little bit. But I thought it was good for our group; we got a little more focused. As the game progressed we got to know our opponent a little better, and once we felt like we had them it was lights out and we got that 'W' – it was great."

- On advancing to the SBC Championship final:
"We just have to keep it going. There are two great teams going at it tomorrow. You're looking at the two teams that have won the last four or five conference championships, if not more. It's going to be an uphill battle, we just want to play a really good match. We just want to be playing the best ball we can at this point in the year, and I think we are. We'll give it our best and hopefully we'll get the 'W.'"

UP NEXT
South Alabama will return to action Sunday when it faces the winner of Texas State and Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt Conference Championship final at 1 p.m. at Foley Sports Complex in Foley, Ala.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with USAJaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at Twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. 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.
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