FOLEY, Ala. - South Alabama (22-7, 12-4) leaned on
Hannah Maddux's offense and
Niki Capizzi's defense to defeat Georgia Southern (21-8, 10-6) in three sets.
Hannah Maddux opened up with the first four points for the Jaguars, three kills and a block assist. With neither team creating an opening, a Lillie Simons kill followed by an ace from Kailey Keeble gave the Jags a slim lead that Niki Capizzi cobbled into a block with Maddux and the final two points for the Jags to take the opening set, 25-23.
Four early kills from Maddux paved the Jags' early lead in the second set, but it was back-to-back blocks with Capizzi's involvement followed by an ace from Paige Lynn that cemented a towering 22-8 lead. Capizzi sent it to set point with a kill and the Jaguars celebrated a set two win after an errant serve finalized the score, 25-11.
Set three began slow for South Alabama. The Eagles gained an early advantage before Capizzi and Maddux traded kills to draw the score back in. It wasn't until a pair of Keeble-Capizzi blocks and an Addison Hurst ace gave the 15-14 Jaguar lead. Maddux made sure three of the next four points went to the Jags with three kills. Georgia Southern worked back into a tied score at 19, but the final points turned into the Hannah Maddux show as she struck another three kills and joined Capizzi in a block to take the final set, 25-20.
Maddux led in kills with 21 and also totaled five blocks. Capizzi ended with eight kills and eight blocks. Keeble finished with 37 assists, and Lynn led the team with 15 digs. Hurst's first career start left her with seven digs, six kills, a block and an ace.
NOTES
- Maddux finished three kills away from the SBC tournament record for kills in three sets (24).
- South's 11 blocks marks the 13th match this season they've finished with 10+ kills.
- The Jags have now held opponents under .100 hitting percentage in five different matches this season.
QUOTES
Head Coach Jesse Ortiz
On the team's performance
"I thought we passed pretty well. We had that little stint there at the beginning of the third (set), a little run of not dialing it in, but I thought for the most part our serving was great. I liked our serving, same thing, in set one we were a little erratic on that but we kinda settled in. A lot of credit to Georgia Southern. That team battles hard. I thought Hannah (Maddux) was pretty lights out today."
On Hannah Maddux's performance
"It's pretty awesome. She's a threat all over the court. It's an amazing thing for us to have a kid like that because the opponent has to honor her and the variety of ways that we showcase her and that also helps open up everybody else. She's a tremendous teammate. She's obviously a force where you can give her the ball or what she does, it allows us to also share the ball around and give others chances too."
UP NEXT
The Jaguars advance to their third straight SBC Tournament Semifinals appearance and will face the winner of Coastal Carolina and Louisiana Nov. 18 at 2 p.m.
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