MOBILE, Ala. - South Alabama (9-3) begins conference play hosting Southern Miss (5-6) Sept. 21 and 22 at Jaguar Gym.
The Jaguars are entering conference play with the best non-conference record since the Sun Belt began conference play in 1992. South hosted two invitationals, going 5-1 and went 4-2 when on the road for the Clemson Invitational and FAMU Tournament.
Southern Miss is led by one of the SBC's premier players, Junior OH Mia Wesley. Wesley leads her team in kills with 142, and is second in the conference in kills/set, at 3.94. Wesley also leads the conference in service aces/set, averaging .56, with 20 total aces. Defensively, the Golden Eagles are led by Junior MB Cara Atkinson and Sophomore OH/RS Cailin Demps, who have 23 and 22 blocks, respectively. Junior L Megan Harris has the most digs on the team with 133, followed by Graduate OH Aysu Dalogullari with 115.
TEAM STATISTICS
- South Alabama sits third in the conference in blocks/set, at 2.50.
- USA's stifling .156 opp hitting percentage is third in the conference and 33rd nationally.
- Niki Capizzi is currently eighth in the conference in hitting percentage, with .318.
- Hannah Maddux and Maddie Soboleski are fifth and sixth in SBC in kills/set with 3.66 and 3.64, respectively.
- Hannah Maddux has passed her career high service aces in a season (21) and currently is tied for fourth in the Sun Belt with 22.
- Capizzi is second in the SBC in blocks/set with 1.32.
OPPONENT
Southern Miss enters conference play from a 2-1 weekend facing Little Rock (W), Memphis (W), and Arizona State (L) in the Beale Street Challenge in Memphis Tennessee. The only shared opponent so far between USA and USM is Stephen F. Austin. The Jags defeated SFA 3-1 in their season opener, while USM lost 2-3 in SFA Tournament #1. South Alabama owns a 32-21 all-time lead over Southern Miss in a series that dates back to 1975. The Jaguars have won six of the last seven against the Golden Eagles, dating back to 2016. Last season was the first conference play between the two teams, which saw the Jaguars split the series with USM, taking the first game 3-1 then dropping the second in five sets. The Jags are 2-1 all-time against Southern Miss under Head Coach Jesse Ortiz, and this will be the first time these teams meet in Mobile since 2019.
UP NEXT
- The Jags take to the road for a series in Monroe, Lou. against ULM to continue conference play. The Warhawks are 4-9 going into their conference slate.
FOLLOW THE JAGS
To stay up to date on everything South Alabama Volleyball, follow the Jags on Twitter (@SouthAlabamaVB), Facebook (SouthAlabamaAthletics), Instagram (SouthAlabamaVB), or visit the official home of South Alabama Athletics (usajaguars.com).
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