Date: 8/19
Position: Middle Blockers

Returning Letterwinners (Key stats):  Morgan Stalcup (3 matches played, 2 matches started, 3 kills, 1 block) 

Letterwinners Lost (Key stats):  Carly Doros (47 kills, 3 asst., 36 digs, 2 BS, 22 BA, 24 total blocks);  Hannah Johnson (100 kills, 3 asst., 1 service ace, 20 digs, 9 BS, 48 BA, 57 blocks, 0.77 bps);  Rebecca Walk (.386 hit pct., 151 kills, 2.04 kps, 6 asst., 5 service aces, 46 digs, 7 BS, 48 BA, 55 blocks, 0.74 bps) 

Newcomers (Yr., Previous School):  Nevaeh Scott (Fr., Ballard [Ky.] HS);  Evie Taylor (Fr., Mesquite [Ariz.] HS);  Kennedy Wallace (Sr., Northern Illinois);  Niki Capizzi (Jr., Tennessee)

Miscellaneous Notes
- Stalcup made her 2020 season debut in a start against Georgia Southern on Oct. 23, which marked her first action since Oct. 12, 2019, at Georgia State after an injury cost her the remainder of the 2019 season and all of 2020.
- Walk was named the 2020 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and also earned second-team all-SBC honors. She joined Mechell Daniel (2013) as the only Jaguars to be named the league's freshman of the year.
- Walk led the SBC in hitting percentage (.386) in 2020.
- Wallace led Northern Illinois in hitting percentage (.283), and ranked second on the team in kills per set (2.54) and blocks per set (0.90) last season.
- Capizzi played her freshman season at Eastern Washington, before transferring to Tennessee for the 2020 season, where she appeared in all 30 matches with 20 starts and recorded 208 kills, which ranked second on the team, along with 66 total blocks, including nine solo, for an average of 0.59 blocks per set, 42 digs, six service aces and three assists.
- South Alabama ranked 11th in the Sun Belt Conference in blocks per set (1.77) last season. The Jags ranked tied for fifth in opponent hitting percentage (.175), sixth in hitting percentage (.176) and 10th in kills per set (10.70).
- In conference matches in 2020, USA ranked tied for third in opponent hitting percentage (.157).

Head Coach Jesse Ortiz
- With just one returner at Middle Blocker (Morgan Stalcup) who has seen limited action the past two seasons due to injury, what are the challenges on the front line this year? 
"The biggest challenge is navigating the unknown. We have a few new players this year. Each with her own skill-set and abilities. Discovering what each one brings to the table is part of the fun, but also the challenge that we face early on."

- What are some of the things you have noticed about Stalcup as far as a leadership and taking on a mentor role? 
"Morgan brings veteran leadership and one of my favorite attributes in a player, a "Big Brain." She helps guide the younger players and is great about knowing our system. She is a tremendous individual!" 

- What are your expectations of the newcomers at Middle Blocker, especially those with Division I experience? 
"I am not sure my answer just applies to our newcomers or our Middle Blockers. I believe all of our team is learning about each other and my expectations. I ask that every Jaguar is ready to compete every day she enters the gym, and try as hard as she can to learn our concepts."

- How do you feel about depth at the position? 
"I like our depth. Having five quality middles is a luxury. The Middles are definitely going to be working this season.  Hopefully, we can tap into their potential and see their very best on a daily basis."

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.