Box Score

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team defeated UT Arlington in straight sets (25-19, 26-16, 25-22) Friday at Jag Gym to open Sun Belt Conference play.

USA (8-5) snapped a two-game losing skid with the win, and also extended its home win streak to seven matches dating back to last season. The Jaguars will return to action when they host Texas State at 6 p.m. Saturday at Jag Gym in a Sun Belt Conference contest.

GAME FACTS
Set 1
- A kill by Devon Martinka gave UTA a 9-8 lead, but South Alabama responded with a 5-0 scoring run, highlighted by a kill from Niki Capizzi and block-assist by Capizzi and Hannah Maddux, to take a 13-9 lead.
- A Jaguar service error cut the UTA deficit to two at 17-15 before the Jags used a 3-0 run that started with a kill by Bradford to push their lead to 20-15. 
- South Alabama earned set point at 24-19 on a Maverick attack error, and clinched the set 25-19 on a kill by Bradford to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

Set 2
- South Alabama held a one-point lead at 11-10 following a Jaguar attack error, but a 4-0 USA run that featured a block-assist by Capizzi and Soboleski, and service ace by Rachel Hickey increased the Jag advantage to 15-10.
- UTA cut its deficit to three at 15-12 on a kill by Monica LeFleur. South Alabama answered with a 5-0 run, highlighted by kills from Maddux and Capizzi, and a block-assist by Capizzi and Kailey Keeble to extend its lead to 20-12.
- A kill by Kennedy Wallace gave the Jaguars set point at 24-16, and USA clinched the set 25-16 on a block-assist by Wallace and Maddux to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Set 3
- The Jags held a one-point lead at 7-6 after a kill by UTA's Briana Brown, but a 3-0 USA run, which featured a solo block by Maddux and kill by Soboleski, pushed the Jaguar lead to 10-6.
- The Mavericks then responded with a 7-1 scoring run for a 14-12 lead.
- A Jaguar service error gave UTA a 15-13 lead, but USA answered with 4-0 run, highlighted by a kill from Bradford, to take a 17-15 lead. 
- UTA cut the Jag lead to 23-22 on a USA attack error, but a kill by Keeble earned match point at 24-22, and South Alabama clinched the set 25-22 on a service ace by Capizzi to sweep the match. 

NOTES
- Bradford led the Jags with 10 kills, along with a .467 hitting percentage and two digs.
- Keeble recorded her team-best eighth double-double of the season, finishing with 29 assists and 12 digs, in addition to two kills and two blocks.
- Wallace finished with six kills on eight attempts and posted a .625 hitting percentage, and also recorded one block.
- The Jaguars hit .267 in the match, while UTA finished with a .124 team hitting percentage.
- USA totaled eight blocks in three sets against the Mavericks' six blocks.
- The win extended South Alabama's home win streak to seven matches dating back to last year's Georgia Southern series.
- The victory also marked USA's fourth straight over UTA in the regular season.

QUOTES
Head Coach Jesse Ortiz
- On the win:
"We established a rhythm on serve-receive early and pass to attack. We had a game plan and did a really good job of sticking to it. And (Kailey) Keeble created within the system; I thought we did a tremendous job. Our serve and pass definitely helped us tonight."

- On the crowd:
"It was tremendous. Seeing the support that we have here, it just shows how important volleyball is here at South and how much the community is into it. We love it and are fired up. It's going to help us get extra points in the later part of our year. It was awesome."

- On the team's confidence:
"They have a lot of moxie. They prepared really hard throughout the week, and they have been working their tails off all year. I think with all of that preparation, you feel like you are ready to go at it. We felt like we had a pretty good game plan, and we executed tonight; the team did a tremendous job."

Outside Hitter Carissa Bradford
- On the win:
"The way our practices are set up, we go really hard at the beginning of the week and then focus on our opponent toward the end. I think just the focus throughout the week is really what prepares us for matches on the weekend."

- On the team's confidence:
"I think having a lot of upperclassmen helps with that, but also the hard work we put in starting in the summer and through the preseason has really helped."

- On the crowd:
"It was amazing. We have a smaller gym, but Jag Gym has a special charm to it. It is always full and a lot of fun."

UP NEXT
South Alabama will return to action Saturday when it hosts Texas State at 6 p.m. at Jag Gym in a Sun Belt Conference contest. 

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.