MOBILE, Ala. – Abryanna Cannon recorded a match-high 14 kills to go along with nine digs and two aces as the Blue team defeated the Red Team in three sets (25-21, 26-24, 25-22) in South Alabama's annual Red vs. Blue Match Friday night at Jag Gym.

Along with Cannon, Megan Smith (12) and Lillie Simons (10) also finished in double digits. Setter Anna Loberg posted a double-double with 37 digs and 11 digs. Briana Wilson added a match-high 25 digs.

The Red Team was paced offensively by Maradith O'Gorman's 12 kills and Addison Hurst was credited with 13 digs.

In the opening set, the Blue squad jumped out to an early lead and led by as many as six (24-18) after a kill from Smith and fellow freshman Eva Dittmar clinched the set, 25-21, five points later with a kill of her own. Cannon led the Blue Team offensively in the opening set, recording seven of her 14 kills in the frame.

The second set was tight throughout with the two teams posting 14 ties and five lead changes in the frame. With the set tied at 24, two attack errors by the Red squad gave the Blue team the victory.

Looking to close out the match, the Blue team rallied back from an early 7-3 deficit, and eventually tied the set up at 17-17 after a kill by Dittmar. Tied 22-22 later in the set, Aniston Cochran blasted home a kill to put the Blue Team out in front for good as they went on to take the match (25-22) after a service ace by Smith.

Quotable – head coach Jesse Ortiz
- On his thoughts on the match: "I feel like we've been working really hard. We're still getting to know each other, that's just part of having a new group. I feel like all of the hard work showed out on the court tonight. We had a few surprises with the productivity of a few of our players, but that production has been consistent in our practices. We've been very competitive and we just have a lot of talent on our roster. We'll keep on competing and fighting it out, but I was very pleased tonight."

UP NEXT
South Alabama will open the 2024 season when it hosts the Jaguar Invitational hosted by Hampton by Hilton at Providence Park next weekend. The Jags will take on Texas A&M on Friday (Aug. 30) at 5:30 p.m. and McNeese State on Sunday (Sept. 1) at 11 a.m.

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