MOBILE, Ala. - South Alabama (11-3) defeated Southern Miss (5-8) to win their first conference series of the season. Kailey Keeble's 46th career double-double sets a program record.
The Jaguars jumped to an early lead of 9-2 through a Paige Lynn ace and an Abryanna Cannon-Niki Capizzi block. Southern Miss pulled back in on a 5-0 run and both sides took points one at a time. In the closing points of the set, the Golden Eagles took to a 6-1 run for a set one win 25-22.
Set two stayed close as USM dropped in two early aces, and the Jags benefitted from a solo block by Capizzi. Keeble also took the Golden Eagles by surprise with two quick kills dumped over the net. Back-to-back blocks, the first by Hannah Maddux and Lillie Simons and the second by Simons and Keeble, gave South the 14-11 edge. Maddie Soboleski then took control of the set with two separate pairs of kills, then two service aces that became the 24th and 25th point. The Jags left no room for the Golden Eagles in the 25-15 set.
Maddux kept the energy up for South Alabama with a service ace to ring in the set. The Jags took to an early four point lead via a Cannon solo block, a Sokoleski kill, and book-ended by two Capizzi-signed kills. The Keeble and Capizzi duo put up a resounding block, and Maddux then made the most of her serves again, sending over another ace to extend the lead 14-9. Keeble and Capizzi weren't done with this set though, as they teamed up for another block. Maddux struck in three of South's last six points of the set to take the third frame, 25-18.
With little separation made, USA took an 8-7 set on a run started by Cannon with a kill, then a block with Simons. Maddux struck her third ace of the match and Cannon and Simons doubled back for another block. Keeble turned defense into offense with a dig that sailed back over to Southern Miss with no response, then Soboleski put the Golden Eagles on their heels to score five straight kills and mark the back half of a commanding 10-0 run at 17-8. The lead was insurmountable for the Golden Eagles as Cannon struck the final blow to finalize the set 25-15.
Soboleski led the offense with 19 kills, her totals including 11 digs, two service aces, and an assist. Maddux finished with 12 kills, three aces, two digs, a block assist, and an assist. Three different players earned five or more total blocks on the night, Cannon (seven), Capizzi (six), and Simons (five), as well and three block assists from Keeble. Keeble's record-setting night was built off 33 assists and 17 digs. Lynn set career highs in digs (23) and assists (nine) and also recorded a service ace.
NOTES
- USA's defense has now held their opponent under .150 hitting percentage in seven matches.
- Tonight's 12 blocks marks the sixth time the Jags have reached double digits in blocks.
- Soboleski averaged 4.29 kills/set and 3.14 digs/set on the weekend
- Cannon set her career high in blocks at seven tonight.
QUOTES
Head Coach Jesse Ortiz
On the team's performance tonight
"We knew day two was gonna be much tougher. You just get to know each other a little bit more. All the first game jitters are out and we got to really just have a chess match. I thought Hannah (Maddux) served great, I thought (Kailey) Keeble was pretty light out, and Keeble getting that double-double leader in South Alabama history, I love that. She is something else, and a lot of other people contributed to the win tonight but special shoutout to her, she's our quarterback and she's the one that guides our group, our captain, our leader. She's awesome."
Senior Kailey Keeble
On the match tonight
"The win today was super awesome. It's always tough playing a team back-to-back. Second day, everybody knows each other a little better. They're scheming different, so you gotta watch out for things like that, but I think it was really good for our team to be able to bounce back, especially after that first set loss."
On setting the program career double-double record
"It's really exciting. I couldn't have done it without my teammates. They put up great blocks and it just makes it really easy to dig behind, and then all credit to my hitters, I mean, they make my job really easy. I just throw the ball up and they do the rest, so I couldn't do it without my teammates."
UP NEXT
South Alabama will head west to Monroe, Lou. to continue in conference play facing ULM on Sept. 28 at 6pm and Sept. 29 at 2 pm.
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—USA—
