MOBILE, Ala. - The University of South Alabama volleyball team will begin Sun Belt Conference play this weekend when the Jags host Florida Atlantic and Florida International, before heading to in-state rival Troy. USA will take on FAU at 5 p.m. on Friday and FIU at 11 a.m. on Sunday at Jag Gym and then travel to take on the Trojans on Monday at 7 p.m. at Trojan Arena.
All three matches will be available via the web at www.usajaguars.com as part of the Jaguar Nation package. Fans can subscribe to Jaguar Nation for either $7.95 a month or by purchasing an annual subscription for $69.95. Live stats for Monday's match versus Troy will also be available at www.usajaguars.com.
Admission for both the FAU and FIU home matches is free.
South Alabama (9-4) enters it conference opener this weekend fresh off a 3-0 sweep at the Lady Panther Invitational in Prairie View, Texas. USA picked up straight-set wins over Nicholls State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Prairie View A&M on its way to capturing the tournament title and extend its win-streak to five.
"This past weekend definitely helped the team to build some confidence and get ready for conference play," South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock said. "Every weekend is important, but this weekend is a great opportunity for us to get off to a good start in the league. Sometimes the opening weekend can set the tone for the season. This season has been about opportunities. We have an opportunity to get off to a successful start in conference, as we play two out of our first three conference matches at home. Hopefully our team will take advantage of the opportunity and comes ready to play."
USA's Olivia Mohler was selected as the MVP of the tournament, while Kari Frazier and Jennica Hagberg also earned all-tournament honors.
The Jags come into SBC action riding a five-match win streak - the longest for the program since winning seven-straight during the 1989 season. The nine wins after the first 13 matches are also the most for USA since the 1982 team began the year with an 11-2 mark.
Offensively, Juliana Almeida continues to pace the club with 3.61 kills per set - sixth in the Sun Belt.
As a team, South Alabama leads the SBC and ranks fourth in the NCAA's with 2.20 aces per set. Frazier continues to lead the conference in that same category with 0.51 per set, while Hagberg is second with 0.46 per set. Nationally, Frazier is 26th and Hagberg is 46th in aces.
USA has also been strong defensively at the net. Sophomore middle blocker Lindsay Schwartz's 1.16 blocks lead the club and rank second amongst the league leaders, while Mohler is close behind her with 0.85.
Florida Atlantic comes into Friday's Sun Belt Conference match with a 2-7 record this season, but a 1-0 mark in league play. This past weekend, FAU picked up its first two wins of the season, defeating fellow SBC member Louisiana-Monroe and Jackson State at the Adidas Warhawk Bayou Showdown. The Owls did fall 3-1 on Saturday to McNeese State in the final match of the ULM tournament.
Right side hitter Anne Vaughan leads the club with 3.00 kills per set, but the senior did miss all three matches over the weekend. Kristyna Dzmuranova ranks second on the team with 2.04 kps and Krystena Castro is just behind her with 2.00.
Dzmuranova is also a threat from behind the service line, as the senior is tied for fourth in the SBC in aces with 0.38. Freshman libero Cintia Nightingale is ninth in the league in digs with 3.39 per set.
As a team, FAU is sixth in the Sun Belt in service aces, averaging 1.29 per set.
Florida International comes into conference action this weekend with a 10-2 record on the season. FIU - the defending SBC champion and preseason favorite - will face Troy on Friday evening before traveling to Mobile.
Last weekend, the Golden Panthers picked up their second tournament victory of the year, sweeping all three matches at the Radisson-UCF Classic. At the UCF tournament, FIU defeated the host Knights, Southern Miss and Florida A&M each in straight sets.
FIU's Olga Vergun was named the tournament MVP and Natalia Valentin and Jovana Bjelica were each named to the all-tourney squad.
For much of the season, Florida International has been without the services of SBC Preseason Player of the Year, Yarimar Rosa, who has missed time due to injury. Her status for this weekend is still undetermined.
In Rosa's absence, Vergun - a preseason all-SBC selection - and Bjelica have led the Golden Panthers offensively. Vergun's 3.90 kills per set rank fourth in the league, while Bjelica is right behind her in fifth with 3.69 per set.
Junior setter Natalia Valentin leads the conference and ranks ninth nationally in assists with 11.71.
As a team, FIU's 14.29 kills per set ranks 11th in the NCAA's, while the club also ranks 17th in assists with 13.12. Florida International leads the SBC in both categories and ranks third in the league in attack percentage (.239) and digs (14.59).
Monday's opponent, Troy, enters action this weekend after recording a 4-7 record during the non-conference schedule. The Trojans will open the SBC schedule with three-straight home matches, taking on Florida International on Friday, Florida Atlantic on Saturday and the Jags on Monday. The match versus FIU will be the first for Troy since falling 3-0 at Jacksonville State on Sept. 15.
Preseason all-SBC selection Meghan Gilroy has lived up to her accolades. The senior middle blocker ranks second in the conference in both kills (4.35) and attack percentage (.371), while also ranking eighth in the SBC in blocks with 0.97 per set. Gilroy's kills per set average also ranks 17th nationally.
Sophomore Brittany McClelland has also provided offense this season for the Trojans, registering 2.39 kps.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
NOTES: The meeting between South Alabama and Florida Atlantic on Friday will be the eighth in the all-time series. FAU holds a 4-3 advantage in the series, but USA has taken two of the last three meetings. The two clubs split both meetings last season, each holding home court. The meeting between South Alabama and Florida International on Saturday will be the 22nd in the all-time series. FIU holds a 16-4-1 advantage in the series and dating back to the 1999 season, the Golden Panthers have taken 14 of the last 15 contests, including the last eight. The meeting between South Alabama and Troy on Monday will be the 53rd meeting between the two clubs in the all-time series. USA holds a 34-18 advantage in the series and swept both meetings in 2008, defeating the Trojans 3-1 in Mobile and 3-2 in Troy.
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