MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama volleyball opened preseason camp for its 2022 campaign Tuesday morning at Jaguar Gym.

USA returns 13 letterwinners, along with four redshirt freshman, from last season's Sun Belt Conference championship and NCAA Regional team. The Jags also welcome four newcomers to the roster.

South Alabama won both the 2021 SBC regular season and SBC Championship to earn the program's first-ever league title and NCAA postseason appearance, which came in Gainesville, Fla. USA went 25-7 overall and 15-1 in SBC play in 2021, setting a program record for conference wins. Its 25 wins were the most by a Jag squad since the 1987 team won 26 games.

Kailey Keeble, the 2021 SBC Championship Most Outstanding Player and first-team all-SBC selection, returns at setter along with outside hitters Hannah Maddux and Maddie Soboleski who both earned second-team all-SBC honors last year. Head coach Jesse Ortiz was named the SBC Coach of the Year and the American Volleyball Coaches Association Southeast Region Coach of the Year. 

South Alabama led the SBC in opponent hitting percentage (.145), opponent assists per set (10.49), opponent kills per set (11.29), ranked second in opponent service aces per set (1.04) and blocks per set (2.42), and third in hitting percentage (.237), assists per set (12.00) and kills per set (13.04) last season.

The Jaguars will open the 2022 season on Fri., Aug. 26, at 9 a.m. against William & Mary in Tampa, Fla., and will open their home schedule on Thu., Sept. 15, when they host Ole Miss at 7 p.m. at Jaguar Gym. Fans can get their first look at this season's squad on Sat., Aug. 20, when the Jags will hold a Red-Blue scrimmage at 6 p.m. in Jaguar Gym that will be open to the public.

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