MOBILE, Ala. ? The University of South Alabama volleyball fell short Saturday afternoon as it dropped a 3-2 (28-30, 31-29, 30-26, 28-30, 15-13) match to in-state rival and Sun Belt foe Troy at Jag Gym.
With the loss, USA drops to 9-15 on the season and 2-10 in league play, while the Trojans improve to 15-14 overall and 6-7 in the SBC. South Alabama had five players register double-figure kill tallies in the loss to the Trojans, led by Hristina Markova’s match-high 23. Also finishing in double figures for USA was Juliana Pallamin de Almeida (18), Jenna Swilley (11) and Lauren Robbins and Brittany Blackwelder with 10 each. Robbins also recorded 11 digs on the afternoon to give the Jag senior her first double-double of the season. Jag libero Shannon VanAntwerp also notched a match-high 22 kills against Troy. The Trojans also had four players finish in double figures in the kills category and were paced Meghan Gilroy’s 20.
GAME ONE: Troy 30, South Alabama 28
Throughout the opener in what would prove to be the theme of the match, both clubs kept it close. The biggest lead of game one came at 13-8 after a Jag ball handling error, but USA fought back and tied the contest back up at 15-15 after a Robbins kill. Tied at 28-28 down the stretch, Aubre Smith and Jennifer White each recorded a kill to give the Trojans the final two points and the 30-28 win. Both clubs came out hot offensively with USA recording a .424 hitting percentage and Troy close behind at .333.
GAME TWO: South Alabama 31, Troy 29
In game two, the Trojans kept the momentum from game one early on, opening up with seven unanswered points. After a Jag time out, South Alabama responded right back with eight of the next nine points, tying the contest at 8-8 on a Maria Kashavelova ace. With USA holding a 24-19 lead after a Swilley kill later in the second game; it was Troy’s turn to answer. The Trojans kept battling back and tied the game back up at 28-28 on a Smith put away. Two points later though, South Alabama evened the match back up at one game apiece after kills from Robbins and Swilley.
GAME THREE: South Alabama 30, Troy 26
Neither team was able to get more than a three-point lead on the other for much of the third game, until with USA holding a 25-23 advantage, Almeida ignited a Jag three-point spurt with three straight kills that put USA up 28-23. Troy closed the deficit to two with three straight points of their own, but the Jags reeled off the final two points of game three, the last coming on an Almeida service ace.
GAME FOUR: Troy 30, South Alabama 28
It was Troy again in game four that came out and took the early lead at 7-3, but again, South Alabama battled back and grabbed the lead at 15-13 after a pair of Trojan attack errors and a Markova kill. USA later looked to be in control and took its largest lead at 24-19 of the game four after two more kills by Almeida, but the Trojans captured seven of the next nine points to tie the contest back up at 26-26 on a Kerry Heinz kill. South Alabama ended the Trojan run with two straight points only to see Troy close game four with the final four points and send the match to a fifth game with the 30-28 victory.
GAME FIVE: Troy 15, South Alabama 13
In the finale, South Alabama opened the game up with seven of the first 10 points, but Troy battled back and eventually tied things back up at 11-11 after back-to-back Jaguar attack errors. With Troy sitting at game point (14-13), Gilroy sealed the victory when she dropped in one of her 20 kills to give the Trojans the match.
