Box Score (PDF)

MOBILE, Ala. – The nation's second-longest home win streak came to an end Friday at Jag Gym when Texas State defeated South Alabama volleyball in four sets. 

Texas State (16-5, 8-1 SBC) won the opening set 25-15, and took a 2-0 lead with a 25-19 win in set two. The Jaguars cut the Bobcat lead to 2-1 with a 25-23 win in set three before Texas State clinched the match with a 31-29 win in the fourth set.

The loss snapped South Alabama's win streak at six games, and ended the Jags' home win streak at 20 games. It marked the first USA loss at Jag Gym since 2020, and the first at home under second-year head coach Jesse Ortiz.

Bobcat outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald recorded a game-high 26 kills, and posted a .364 hitting percentage while also finishing with 14 digs and six blocks. Jaguar outside hitter Hannah Maddux tallied a team-high 18 kills, one assist, seven digs and four blocks, while Maddie Soboleski added 14 kills, a .256 hitting percentage and one dig. 

USA setter Kailey Keeble recorded a game-high 46 assists, along with four kills, nine digs and one block. Libero Rachel Hickey posted a team-best 20 digs and three assists, and Paige Lynn added 13 digs. 

South Alabama did not record a service ace in the match, marking the first time the Jags have not posted at least one service ace since Aug. 30, 2019, against Western Michigan. Both teams finished with 12 total blocks, while Texas State tallied 83 digs against the Jags' 71. The loss marked the Jaguars' first to Texas State since the 2020 Sun Belt Conference Championship.

UP NEXT
South Alabama (13-8, 7-2 SBC) will return to action Sat., Oct. 22, when it hosts Texas State at 1 p.m. at Jag Gym.

QUOTES
Head Coach Jesse Ortiz
- On the loss:
"I thought it was going to be a battle, and Texas State really came out gunning for us. We talked about that. We had swept them in the last two matchups, and knew they were going to come out here wanting some payback; that's why a lot of those ladies came back this year. I like how we answered back and kept on growing as the game went on, but it was going to take a lot of aggression and tenacity to beat each other here and you saw that. It was a good match, we just came up short today."

- On tomorrow's match:
"You go back to the drawing board and see what you did well and what they did and didn't do well, and see what you can do to neutralize. You just try to do the best you can, and every day is a new adventure. We'll do the very best we can tomorrow."

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