STATESBORO, Ga. – Megan Chevalier collected a match-high 16 kills, and Georgia Southern hit a season-high .396 to post a 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-23) Sun Belt Conference volleyball victory over Troy Friday night.

Jamie DeRatt added 11 kills, nine digs and two blocks for the Eagles (2-13, 2-4), while Cathrine Murray finished with 10 kills and seven digs. Kym Coley posted nine kills and four blocks, and Kat Minnerly tallied 43 assists, seven digs and two blocks.

Marija Zelenovic finished with 12 kills, seven digs and two blocks for Troy (9-9, 1-5), and Symone Shaw added 10 kills and two blocks.

“We had a good week of practice and worked on moving the ball around, and I think we learned a lot,” said Georgia Southern coach Dustin Wood. “We had seven or eight great players tonight, and they all came to play. Megan had a career night - I think it’s clicking with her - and Cathrine played extremely well too.”

Chevalier had two kills and Coley added a third as the Eagles broke a 15-15 tie with three straight points in the first set. Leading 19-16, Georgia Southern finished the set with a 6-2 spurt, keyed by two kills from Murray.

The second set was very similar with the Eagles scoring four in a row to push a 15-14 lead to 19-14 with the help of kills by Murray and Chevalier, and the margin never fell below four points the rest of the way.

Murray and DeRatt got consecutive kills to help the Eagles open a 19-17 advantage in the third set. With Georgia Southern leading 23-21, Murray got a kill to make it set point and after an Eagle ball-handling error and a Troy block, DeRatt sealed the win with a kill.

The Eagles play host to UALR Sunday, Oct. 5, at noon at Statesboro High. Admission to the match is free.

Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting GSEagles.com.

Troy Volleyball Falls at Georgia Southern

STATESBORO, Georgia – The Troy volleyball team could not snap a four-match losing streak on Friday as the Trojans fell to Georgia Southern, 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-23).  Troy defeated the Eagles just over two weeks ago and the two teams have now split the season series.

Troy (9-9, 1-5) was swept for just the second time this season in a match that was played at Statesboro High School while Georgia Southern’s normal home, Hanner Fieldhouse, undergoes renovations.

Marija Zelenovic led Troy with 12 kills on the night and hit .375 with just three errors.  Symone Shaw recorded 10 kills for the Trojans.  The Trojans hit .248 in the match, but Georgia Southern (2-13, 2-4) hit .396 with 51 kills.

Tineille Waggoner recorded 12 assists in one set while Reina Terry had 21 assists in two sets.  Ali Dowdall led the Troy defense with 16 digs while Darby Griff posted a team-high four blocks.

All three sets were close throughout with at least 10 ties in each.  The Trojans were down 18-16 in the first set before the Eagles scored seven of the last nine to take a 25-18 win.  The second set was much the same as Georgia Southern held a narrow 16-14 lead before scoring seven of eight to take control of another 25-18 set.

The third set was the closest of all as no team every led by more two points, despite both teams posting their lowest attack percentage of the match.

Georgia Southern was led by Megan Chevalier’s 16 kills and .520 attack percentage.  Kat Minnerly recorded 43 assists in the match.

The Trojans return to the court on Sunday when they face another Sun Belt newcomer, Appalachian State, at the Holmes Center in Boone, N.C.  The Mountaineers defeated Troy in five sets just two weeks ago.

For more information on Troy Athletics, visit TroyTrojans.com.  Fans can also find Troy in Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube by searching for Troy Athletics.

Mountaineers Top Jaguars in Four Sets

BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University volleyball defeated the South Alabama Jaguars on Friday night, finding the win in four sets with scores of 25-21, 23-25, 25-20 and 25-23.

The Mountaineers (14-2, 4-2 Sun Belt) found their first win after a two-match losing streak against the Jaguars (7-8, 2-3 SBC) in the first of a two-match homestand.

South Alabama took a 4-2 lead to begin the first set , but Appalachian tied the match at seven with a kill from Emily Corrigan. The Jaguars began to pull ahead again, finding four-straight kills to lead 12-8, but the Mountaineers would not give up, tying up the match and then taking a 16-15 lead off a kill from Sloan Evans.

The Apps found kills from Corrigan, Hailey Kerr and Jess Keller to lead the match 22-18. Despite two service errors from the Mountaineers, Evans closed out the first set for the Apps, recording two kills to take the set 25-21.

The Mountaineers started on a roll in the second set, scoring four-straight points to lead 8-4 and then scoring five-straight to lead 15-8. The Jaguars would come back from a timeout with a new energy, slowly beginning to chip away at Appalachian's lead. South Alabama would score nine of the next 11 points to trail by only one point with a score of 18-17.

The Jaguars tied the score at 19 and would then find three kills to pull ahead and take the second set, 25-13 and tie the match 1-1.

The third set began with several tied scores. With the score tied a five Appalachian began a tremendous 11-1 run to lead the Jaguars 16-6. It looked as though the Mountaineers would easily take the set as they led 20-10, but South Alabama made their move, scoring eight of the next nine points, including five kills, to trail 23-18.

The Mountaineers just barely edged out the Jaguars, finding a kill from Lauren Gray to take the third set 25-20 and lead the match 2-1.

The fourth would be the closest of the match, featuring eight tied scores. With the score tied at seven, the Apps scored three-straight to gain a small lead. The match would continue this way as Appalachian maintained the lead but the Jaguars would not trail by more than three points.

The Mountaineers managed to lead by four points with the score 19-14 after a kill from Evans, but South Alabama was not finished. The Jaguars went on a 6-1 run to trail by only one point and then scored three-straight points to finally find a 23-22 lead.

The Mountaineers continued to score, finding the set point off a service ace from Corrigan to take the fourth 25-23 and win the match 3-1.

Corrigan was back on top for the Mountaineers, taylling 18 kills in the victory. She was followed by Gray and Keller's 12 kills each, as well as eight kills from Evans and six from Kerr.

Paige Brown had another outstanding match, finding 46 assists, while Meghan Mahoney led the team defensively with 14 digs. Corrigan and Olivia Loeffler also helped defensively each notching 13 digs in the win as Brown added 12 of her own.

Gray led the team in blocks, finding five block assists on the night.

Mallory Moore led the Jaguars with 14 kills, while Nikki Gittens followed with 13. Emma Anderson had 27 assists for South Alabama.

The Mountaineers hit .221 as a team, but the Jaguars recorded a .232 hitting percentage in the match. The Apps tallied nine team blocks to South Alabama's six.

Appalachian will take on Troy on Sunday at 12 p.m. in the Holmes Center.

Moore Paces Jags With 14 Kills; Mountaineers win 3-1

BOONE, N.C. – Mallory Moore led the University of South Alabama volleyball team with 14 kills and hit .480 in the match versus Appalachian State Friday night, but it wasn't enough as the Jaguars fell 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 20-25, 23-25) to the Mountaineers at the Holmes.

We just couldn't string together enough points tonight," South Alabama head coach Amy Hendrichovsky said.  "We did fight back in three of the four sets, but starting strong is a big part of the game.  If we start strong (in those sets), it's a different match.  Right now we're just fighting ourselves physically and mentally.  When we figure it out, we'll be pretty good, but we need to figure it out soon."

The 14 kills were a season-best for Moore.  Also finishing in double digits for the Jaguars were Nikki Gittens with a career-high 13 kills and a .391 hitting percentage.  Mechell Daniel posted her sixth double-double of the season and 20th of her career with 12 kills and 12 digs.  Junior setter Emily Hundt also finished the night with her fifth double-double of the season, recording 23 assists and 10 digs.

Abby Baker led all players with a match-high 19 digs, while Jenna Hassell chipped in with 13 digs of her own.  USA held an 82-67 advantage in the dig category on the night and also out hit App State .232-.221 in the match. The 82 digs were the second-most by the club in a match this season.

"We had some people that came ready to play tonight," Hendrichovsky said.  "I thought Mallory (Moore) had a good night for us.  I also thought that Nikki (Gittens), Mechell (Daniel) and our passers on defense did a nice job, but it's a team sport.  You can't just rely on two people.  Ultimately everyone on the court matters."

The Jags (7-8, 2-3 SBC) will continue on the road and take on Georgia State on Saturday at 5 p.m. (CT) at the GSU Sports Arena. Live stats and web streaming for the match versus the Panthers will be available at www.USAJaguars.com and can be accessed on the Jaguar volleyball schedule page.

Appalachian State improved to 14-2 overall and 4-2 in Sun Belt play with the four-set win.  Emily Corrigan led all players with 18 kills for the Mountaineers, while also adding 13 digs and three block assists.  Lauren Gray and Jess Keller each chipped in with 12 kills apiece.  Gray also hit .370 in the match and recorded a match-high five block assists.

ASU junior setter Paige Brown – who entered play this week leading the nation in assists per set – had 46 assists in the match to go along with her 12 digs.

SET ONE: APPALACHIAN STATE 25, SOUTH ALABAMA 21

With the first set tied at 8-8, South Alabama reeled off four straight points and took a 12-8 lead when Baker dropped in a kill.  Moore began the scoring for the Jaguars with a pair of kills.  The sophomore would record six in the opening set.  Appalachian State responded quickly with four unanswered points of its own and tied the set up at 12-12 on block assists by Hailey Kerr, Corrigan and Sloan Evans.

The two clubs traded points over the next several points and the Mountaineers took their first lead of the night at 15-14 following block assists from Jess Keller and Lauren Gray and another USA attack error.

With Appalachian State holding a one-point advantage (19-18) later in the set, the home team pulled away and pushed across five of the next seven points to hold set-point at 24-20.  Evans sealed the win for ASU two points later with her third kill of the frame.  Corrigan led the Mountaineers with five first-set put aways.

Baker was solid in the defensive back court for the Jags as she had 10 kills in the opening set.

SET TWO: SOUTH ALABAMA 25, APPALACHIAN STATE 23

USA grabbed the first point of the second set on an ace from Hassell, but the Mountaineers came right back with four points of their own and took a three-point lead on a solo block by Keller.

South Alabama trimmed the deficit to two on two occasions over the next several points, the last coming at 10-8 after kills by Gittens and Jessica Lewis, but Appalachian State retook control with five unanswered points to extend its lead out to seven (15-8).  Gray led the charge for ASU with three kills.

Appalachian State looked as if it were going to control the match from there, but trailing 17-10, the Jaguars came storming back and rattled off 10 of the next 12 points.  Gittens tied the set back up at 19-19 with another kill and USA then retook the lead on the next point following a Mountaineer attack error.  Gittens recorded two more kills and teamed up with Moore on a block during the run.

The Jags later gained a two-point advantage at 23-21 after a block assists from Symone Stephenson and Moore and four points later, Daniel evened the match and gave South Alabama the 25-23 second-set victory with a kill.

SET THREE: APPALACHIAN STATE 25, SOUTH ALABAMA 20

With the third set tied 5-5, the Mountaineers broke things open with an 11-1 run over the next 12 points and took control.  Keller sparked the scoring for App State as she had three kills during the run.  Olivia Reed capped things off and put ASU up 16-6 with an ace.

Still trailing by double figures (23-12), the Jaguars made a late charge, using a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to 23-18.  True freshman Kolby Meeks led the rally attempt with a pair of kills and a block assists.

That was as close as USA would get though as the Mountaineers went on to pick up the third-set win (25-20) on Grey's seventh kill of the match.

SET FOUR: APPALACHIAN STATE 25, SOUTH ALABAMA 23

In the fourth set, South Alabama held a 6-4 lead early on following a kill by Gittens, but on the ensuing point, Gray led a 6-1 scoring spurt to put App State back out in front.  Gray had three kills during the run.

The Jaguars battled back and knotted the frame back up at 12-12 after a kill by Moore and a Mountaineer attack error, but once again, Appalachian State would answer back quickly as it ran off seven of the next nine points to retake the lead at 18-14.  This time it was Keller who led the charge as she had three kills of her own during the run.

Like the second set, USA made a late offensive charge after trailing by six.  Appalachian State held a 21-15 advantage following a kill by Gray, but over the next nine points, the Jaguars would fight back and tie the contest up on a block assists by Daniel and Hundt and then retake the lead (23-22) on Moore's 14th kill of the match.

However, Corrigan tied the set back up on the next point with a kill and with ASU holding match-point, the junior outside hitter then dropped in an ace to clinch the 25-23 fourth-set win and give the Mountaineers the 3-1 match victory.

NOTES: The match versus the Mountaineers on Friday night was the first-ever versus South Alabama.  The 14 kills by Mallory Moore versus were a new season-best.  Nikki Gittens also ended the night with a career-high 13 kills.  Mechell Daniel posted her sixth double-double of the season and 20th of her career with 12 kills and 12 digs and junior setter Emily Hundt had her fifth double-double of the season, recording 23 assists and 10 digs.  USA held an 82-67 advantage in the dig category on the night and also out hit App State .232-.221 in the match. The 82 digs were the second-most by the club in a match this season.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

A-State Volleyball Sweeps ULM 3-0

JONESBORO, Ark. (10/3/14) – The Arkansas State volleyball team swept the ULM Warhawks 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-10) Friday night at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro for its eighth win over its last nine matches.

The Red Wolves (9-5, 4-1) got off to a hot start in the first set by jumping out to a 12-4 lead on the Warhawks (6-13, 0-6) after a Kelsey Reis kill and A-State held a 19-11 lead after a ULM attack error.  Arkansas State extended its lead to nine points after another Reis kill at 23-14 and was able to win the set by nine points at 25-16 on a Reis kill.

A-State, holding a 1-0 lead in the match, got off to a slow start in the second set after ULM raced out to a 10-7 lead, but the Red Wolves fought back to tie the set at 13-13.  A-State took the lead at 14-13 on the next point and held an 18-17 lead after a ULM kill. Arkansas State won the next two points to take a 20-17 lead that forced a ULM timeout and ended the game on a 5-2 run, capped by a Jessica Uke kill, to earn a 25-19 second set victory.

The third set was tied 5-5 early on, but the Red Wolves took over from that point using a 5-0 run to take a 10-5 lead.  ULM earned the next point to get within four points at 10-6, but the Red Wolves went on a 6-1 run to take a 16-7 lead.  A-State extended its lead to 10 points at 19-9 on a Uke kill and used a 6-1 run, capped by a Shelby Holmes kill, to win the third set 25-10 for a 3-0 match victory.  A-State trailed ULM 5-4 early in the set, but the Red Wolves ended the set with a 21-5 run.

“This was a good way to start our second home match,” A-State volleyball coach David Rehr said.  “We gave a really good effort, but there were moments in game two where we slacked off a little bit.  We really came out focused in the game three and I’m proud of the team’s effort.”

Sarah Kemp led the Red Wolves with 13 kills, while Reis added seven on a .429 hitting percentage.  Mallory Warrington handed out 28 assists and tallied 11 digs for her team-leading 11th double-double.  Defensively, Markie Schaedig registered 16 digs, while Reis had three blocks and Uke recorded two.  Warrington led the team with two service aces, while Reis and Hannah Robey each added one.

“I wanted to have more kills than errors and have a significant impact on the game,” Uke said.  “Assistant coach Susie Jangada tells me to make an impact and the biggest way for me to make an impact is on kills and blocks so that was my main focus.”

Arkansas State returns to action against UT Arlington on Sunday in the second match of a three-match home stand.  First serve from the Convocation Center is set for 1 p.m., and fans can keep up with the entire match’s action by following @AStateGameday on Twitter.  For the latest on the A-State volleyball team follow the squad on Twitter (@stAteVolleyball).

Red Wolves Top Warhawks, 3-0

JONESBORO, Ark. -- The ULM volleyball team dropped its decision on the road Friday night when Arkansas State topped the Warhawks, 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-10) at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro, Ark.

ULM (6-13, 0-6 Sun Belt) was unable to get anything going on the offensive end with eight players combining for 26 kills through three sets. The Red Wolves (9-5, 4-1 Sun Belt) took advantage in the first stanza with a 25-16 triumph to capture a one set lead they never relinquished.

Over the next two sets, the Warhawks would force eight tie scores and four lead changes. However, Arkansas State’s efficiency (.308) was effective enough to give the Red Wolves their fourth Sun Belt victory of the season.

Freshman Jennifer McClendon led the way on the attack, collecting six kills on 17 swings and four digs. Fellow first-year setter Bayleigh Hoffman finished the match with a team-high 24 assists to go with four digs and a kill.

Junior transfer Kimberlie Alvarado was solid on the offensive side of the ball hammering down five kills. Sophomore Kaitlyn Shearer added four kills and a solo block.

Sophomore Hope Pawlik racked up four kills, six digs and an ace, while sophomore Hadley Swartz tallied three kills and four digs. Marcela Araya totaled nine digs, marking only the second time the senior hasn’t reached double-digit dig totals

The Warhawks return to action Wednesday night at 7 p.m. when ULM is set to host conference rival UL-Lafayette (13-3, 3-3 Sun Belt) at the Fant Ewing Coliseum.

Mavericks fall to UALR 3-1

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - UT Arlington fell 3-1 (25-22, 25-23, 24-26, 25-16) to UALR on Friday evening at Jack Stephens Center. The Mavericks received a strong showing from freshman Qiana Canete who recorded her tenth double-double of the season with 18 digs and 17 kills.

The loss pushes UTA to 13-4 on the year and 3-2 in conference play while UALR improves to 11-4 overall and 5-0 in the Sun Belt Conference.

Helping Canete spur the Mavs offensively was Hannah Baptiste who notched 14 kills in four-set loss. Amanda Welsh also did her part to direct the offense as she recorded 30 assists on the night. UTA relied on Caitlyn Cooney defensively as the junior libero recorded a team-high 22 digs.

The Mavericks will return to the court on Sunday, Oct. 5 when they take on Arkansas State  with the match set to begin at 1 p.m.