CLEMSON, S.C. - South Alabama takes 3-1 win over Green Bay in the opening game of the Clemson Invitational.
In the first set, Green Bay took advantage early of some errors to start off ahead, but South used a Green Bay timeout to propel their lead from 15-13 into a 10-2 run to finalize the first set 25-15. The run was characterized by five service aces handed out by Hannah Maddux, along with Lillie Simons' four total blocks.
The squad didn't slow down in set two, as Simons added two more blocks and Maddux added two more aces. Maddie Soboleski led the team in kills through both sets with nine. The Jaguars benefited from a number of errors on Green Bay that kept The Phoenix from challenging.
USA was hit with a wave of their own errors in set three that put them behind early. South only recorded two blocks in this set, as they dropped it 25-18.
Things picked up again in the final set, with the Jaguars stringing together an early 4-0 run that put the pressure on the Phoenix. Neither side took commanding separation down the stretch, but the Jags' offense stayed aggressive through Maddux and Abryanna Cannon. South stuck the landing with a 25-23 set.
Maddie Soboleski and Kailey Keeble recorded double-doubles, Soboleski with a team leading 19 kills and 10 digs, while Keeble led the team in both digs (19) and assists (42). Soboleski also led the team in hitting percentage, landing at .400. Maddux finished with 13 kills, two digs, two blocks, and a career record seven service aces. Four different players recorded four or more blocks, with Keeble and Niki Capizzi both getting four, Cannon getting five, and Simons leading the team and setting a personal best eight blocks.
NOTABLES
- USA has now held all four opponents this season under a .150 hitting percentage.
- This is South's third 4-set match of the season.
- The Jags have recorded 15+ team blocks in two different games this season.
UP NEXT
USA faces the home team in Clemson on September 2, at 5 p.m. on ACCNX in the second leg of their Clemson Invitational slate before finishing against Western Carolina on September 3 at 10:30 a.m.
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—USA—
