CONWAY, S.C. - South Alabama (18-7, 9-4) falters on the road in 3-1 loss to East Division leader Coastal Carolina (18-7, 13-0).
In an opening set full of momentum swings, the Jags worked through
Maddie Soboleski late in the set to take the opener in come-back fashion, 25-23. South Alabama used a 6-0 run in the middle of the set to draw back even, then put together another 5-0 run to take the one point advantage late capped off by a dominant
Niki Capizzi block and then taking the set with a kill from Soboleski kill and an attacking error on Coastal Carolina.
The Jaguars fought through a give-and-take second set full of service aces by both squads.
Hannah Maddux lifted South in the middle of the set with a kill to put her in the back line to serve. Capizzi denied CCU with a solo block, then Maddux rocketed over two service aces in a row. The teams then traded points again into the twenties where Capizzi struck two kills late and earned another block to tie the frame at 24. Coastal finished it off in the end with a 26-24 score.
Set three was Chanticleer from beginning to end, with a harrowing 13-4 run in to prevent South from taking this one before they got going. Coastal gained the set advantage 25-11.
The fourth set saw the Jaguars pressing early with a diverse range. Maddux added an ace, Capizzi leapt up for a block with
Kailey Keeble,
Abryanna Cannon sent through a few kills and added a solo block, and Soboleski earned an ace. South Alabama maintained the lead throughout most of the round until a Chanticleer run left the score at 22-21, Coastal. Maddux made it a set point with a pair of kills but CCU ended it with a three point run at 27-25.
Maddux's 16 kills led the team, also recording three aces, five digs, and three blocks. Capizzi finished with seven kills, five blocks, and three digs. Keeble totaled 31 assists, seven digs, three kills, and two blocks.
Paige Lynn and
Briana Wilson led in digs with 13 and 12, respectively.
NOTES
- Tonight's match is the sixth of the season where the Jaguars have been out-hit.
- This is the third match in a row that the Jaguars have recorded 10+ blocks, and the 11th on the season.
- Coastal Carolina's 61 kills is the second-most the Jaguars have allowed and the most in a four set match.
UP NEXT
South Alabama will face Coastal Carolina again on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 12 p.m.
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