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MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team defeated Jacksonville in straight sets (25-20, 27-25, 25-16) Saturday at Jag Gym to win the Jaguar Invitational, sponsored by Holiday Inn Express & Suites University Area.
USA (3-0) extended its win streak to three with the victory, and extended its home win streak to six matches dating back to last season. Kailey Keeble was named the tournament's most valuable player, and was an all-tournament selection along with Niki Capizzi and Maddie Soboleski.
GAME FACTS
- Jacksonville tied the score 8-8 in the opening set after a Jaguar service error, but USA answered with a 4-0 scoring run, highlighted by a service ace from Capizzi and a kill by Soboleski, for a 12-8 advantage.
- The Dolphins cut the Jaguar lead to 15-12 on a kill by Cami Kelsay, but consecutive kills from Kennedy Wallace and Carissa Bradford pushed the USA advantage to 17-12. JU then answered with a 3-0 run to cut its deficit to 17-15.
- South Alabama later earned set point at 24-20 on a JU attack error, and clinched the set 25-20 on a service ace by Rachel Hickey to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
- JU went on a 3-0 run early in set two to take a 5-2 lead, but South Alabama responded with a 5-0 run that featured a solo block and kill by Carissa Bradford and service ace from Soboleski for a 7-5 advantage.
- The Jags took a 14-13 lead on a Dolphin service error, but JU rallied for consecutive points to take a 15-14 lead. A kill from Bradford tied the score at 15-15 before Jacksonville reeled off back-to-back points for a 17-15 advantage.
- A kill from Ezgi Karabulut cut the USA deficit to one at 17-16, but JU went on a 3-0 run, aided by a pair of Jaguar errors, to take a 20-16 lead.
- A Jaguar service error pushed the JU lead to 21-17 before USA used consecutive kills from Capizzi and Soboleski to cut the Dolphin lead to 21-19.
- JU earned set point at 24-21 on a kill by Kyndaal Stansberry. USA then scored three consecutive points on a kill by Bradford and two Dolphin attack errors to tie the score 24-24. A Jacksonville attack error gave USA set point at 25-24, but a service error tied the score 25-25. A JU attack error gave USA set point at 26-25, and the Jags clinched the set 27-25 on a kill by Karabulut for a 2-0 lead in the match.
- USA held a one-point advantage at 5-4 early in set three, but then went on a 6-0 run that featured two kills by Karabulut, one kill by Wallace and a pair of service aces from Hickey for an 11-4 lead.
- The Jags pushed their lead to 17-9 in set three on a kill by Soboleski and Dolphin attack error.
- South Alabama earned match point at 24-15 on JU service error, and clinched the set 25-16 on a JU service error to secure the match 3-0.
NOTES
- Keeble recorded her first double-double of the season with 27 assists and 11 digs, and also added one kill.
- Soboleski finished with nine kills, one service ace, six digs and two block-assists.
- Karabulut also posted nine kills along with one assist, two service aces and six digs.
- Hickey led the Jags in service aces (3) and digs (15), and also recorded four assists.
- USA improved to 3-0 with the win, marking the first time the Jags have opened the season 3-0 since 2009 when they won three straight to start the year.
- The victory also extended South Alabama's home win streak to six matches dating back to last season's Georgia Southern series.
- South Alabama claimed the Jaguar Invitational title with the win.
QUOTES
Head Coach Jesse Ortiz
- On rallying to win set two:
"It's pretty important to be tested. The fact that we had a tournament and can do that at our own house – that's big for us. I appreciate them (team) just staying in the fight. We were down when they (Jacksonville) were in the 20s. It was just one of those things where we just do the very best that we can every single point, and it was big they had the testament to go in there and fight themselves to a win. That was awesome."
- On what impressed him about the team opening weekend:
"I think just their overall energy. And we saw that in this match where they didn't really show it in the beginning; we had a few too many errors. But as the match wore on, we got stronger and I think that was important for us – that we can turn it on. We don't always want to turn it on, we want to start that way. But it was good that we have that gear."
Setter Kailey Keeble
- On being named the tournament's most valuable player:
"It feels really good. Honestly, I have to give all the credit to our back row and our hitters for making me look good. All the credit goes to them."
- On the team:
"We've worked so hard, and everyone is just really pumped up and excited for the season. We know we have a lot to work on, but we like the grind and I'm excited to see where that takes us."
UP NEXT
South Alabama will return to action Fri., Sept. 3, when it opens play at the Tennessee Tech Invitational against Tennessee Tech at 10:30 a.m. in Cookeville, Tenn.
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.
—USA—
All-Tournament Team
Kailey Keeble, South Alabama - MVP
Niki Capizzi, South Alabama
Maddie Soboleski, South Alabama
Ashleigh Holweger, Charleston Southern
Irem Ucar, FAMU
Dominique Washington, FAMU
Cami Kelsay, Jacksonville