Box Score (PDF)

MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama volleyball swept Ole Miss in the Jaguar Invitational presented by Holiday Inn Express Thursday at Jag Gym.

USA (4-6) extended its home win streak to 14 games with the win, dating back to the 2020 season, in its 2022 home opener. It marked the Jags' second win in straight sets this year.

UP NEXT
South Alabama will return to action Friday when it hosts Florida A&M at 5:30 p.m. at Jag Gym in the Jaguar Invitational presented by Holiday Inn Express.

Set 1
- Ole Miss took a 5-2 lead following a bad set by Kailey Keeble, but the Jags responded with a 4-0 run that included a block-assist by Morgan Stalcup and Hannah Maddux to take a 6-5 lead. 
- The Rebels used a 3-0 run to take a 10-8 lead after a pair of kills by Anna Bair.
- Ole Miss tied the match 22-22 on a kill by Katie Corelli, but a block-assist by Lillie Simons and Morgan Stalcup and block-assist by Niki Capizzi and Simons gave the Jags set point at 24-22.
- USA clinched the set 25-23 on a kill by Capizzi to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

Set 2
- The teams went back and forth throughout set two before a 7-1 Jaguar run, highlighted by two block-assists by Capizzi and Kailey Keeble, and a kill and service ace by Maddie Soboleski gave South Alabama a 20-16 advantage.
- The Rebels went on a 4-0 run, aided by a Jaguar service error by Soboleski and attack error by Capizzi, to tie the score 20-20.
- USA answered with consecutive points on a kill by Capizzi and attack error by Ole Miss' Samantha Schnitta to take a 22-20 lead.
- South Alabama earned set point at 24-22 on a kill by Maddux before consecutive points by the Rebels tied the score 24-24. 
- A kill by Soboleski gave the Jags set point at 25-24, but a kill by Ole Miss' Payton Brogch tied the score at 25.
- USA then earned set point at 26-25 on a kill by Soboleski, and clinched the set 27-25 on an attack error by Ole Miss' Vivian Miller.

Set 3
- A bad set by Keeble gave the Rebels a 7-4 lead, but the Jags answered with a 4-0 run that included three straight kills by Soboleski to take an 8-7 lead.
- Ole Miss used a 5-0 run to take a 12-8 lead; however, South Alabama responded with a 3-0 run, highlighted by a block-assist from Capizzi and Keeble and block-assist by Capizzi and Soboleski, to cut the Rebel lead to 12-11.
- South Alabama went on a 5-1 run, which featured a pair of kills by Maddux, to take a 16-15 lead.
- A bad set by Stalcup gave the Rebels a 19-18 lead before a 7-1 Jaguar run, highlighted by four kills by Soboleski, to take a 24-19 lead after earning match point on a block-assist by Simons and Capizzi. 
- South Alabama clinched the set 25-20 on a service error by Bair to sweep the match 3-0. 

NOTES
- The Jags finished with a season-high 14 total team blocks.
- Keeble recorded her eighth double-double of the season with a game-high 31 assists and 10 digs, along with one kill and four blocks. It marked her 27th career double-double, which tied Juliana Almeida (2007-10) for third on the all-time record list at South Alabama.
- Maddux finished with a game-high 16 kills, a .342 hitting percentage and four blocks.
- Soboleski totaled 14 kills, a .314 hitting percentage, one assist, one service ace, three digs and one block.
- Stalcup and Capizzi finished with six kills and seven blocks apiece.
- The win snapped a three-game Jaguar losing streak, and marked the first win against an SEC opponent under head coach Jesse Ortiz.

QUOTES
Head Coach Jesse Ortiz
- On the win:
"Ole Miss is really formidable. I love their players; that (number) 28 (Anna Bair) is something else – she's major. I feel like we played extremely hard tonight. We wanted to protect our house."

- On the crowd:
"This was an amazing crowd tonight. These guys are getting up for volleyball around here in Mobile. This is pretty awesome. There's no doubt about it, they helped us win this game tonight and we're really appreciative of them."

- On the keys to the win:
"One of the things we want to do is how good serve receive throughout (the match) and then be steady about it. We also wanted to outplay them as far as just playing hard - a lot of energy. Throughout the rally we wanted to have some separation from our middles and to the lefts, and we were able to do that because of good passing. And isolate our outsides one-on-one and they were able to score. That was our plan and we executed it."

Outside Hitter Hannah Maddux
- On the win:
"We just played our form of volleyball. We've struggled the past couple of weekends a little bit, and I think tonight was a breakthrough moment for us. It was also great to be home in Jag Gym. The fans were going nuts, it was awesome."

- On her performance:
"I was just trying to jump high and hit hard. From the passes to the sets, everything was just perfect tonight and we all played really well together. I felt pretty springy tonight, and I just tried to jump up and hit the ball into the court."

Outside Hitter Maddie Soboleski
- On the crowd:
"Shout out to all the fans, because that atmosphere was probably the best I've had in three years and we really appreciated it."

- On the win:
"We've been struggling the past couple of weekends, especially with passing, and Coach Jesse (Ortiz) has just been working with us in practice and we had a great week of practice. We needed it this weekend, and I'm just proud of everyone and appreciative to my teammates."

- On her performance:
"I just try not to make it as mental as it is – just go out there and play and have fun with my teammates."

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