JAG VOLLEYBALL DEFEATS ASU, EXTENDS WIN STREAK TO THREE
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The University of South Alabama volleyball team swept Alabama State in straight sets (25-22, 25-17, 31-29) Tuesday at Lockhart Gymnasium.
USA (3-3) extended its winning streak to three games with the victory, and extended its winning streak in the ASU series to 18 matches. The Jaguars posted a season-high .337 hitting percentage in Tuesday's win. Kristina Alabastro led the Jaguar attack with 10 kills, followed by Kelley Hartman and Hannah Harris with nine apiece.
South Alabama will return to action this weekend with a pair of matches at the War Eagle Invitational at Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala. The Jags will square off with Auburn at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by a noon matchup with Clemson on Saturday.
GAME FACTS
- Tuesday's win marked the Jaguars' second straight-sets victory of the season after USA defeated McNeese State in three sets last weekend.
- South Alabama recorded 15 kills and hit .333 in the second set, followed by 19 kills and a .444 attack percentage in the final set.
- USA overcame a seven-point deficit (15-8) midway through the final set, scoring eight of nine points during one stretch to tie the score at 16-16. ASU built a three-point lead, 23-20, later in the set, but the Jags responded with three consecutive points via a kill by Hartman and back-to-back service aces from Abby Baker to tie the score at 23. USA clinched the match on a kill by Hartman and a Hornet attack error.
- The Jaguars' four total team blocks tied for their lowest mark of the season after recording four blocks in last weekend's matchup with Alabama.
- Alabama State posted a .385 hitting percentage in the final set after not hitting above .118 in either of the first two sets of the match.
NOTES
- Alabastro led the Jaguars with 10 kills, and also added one assist, seven digs and one block assist.
- Freshman Hannah Harris finished with a career-high nine kills and posted a .500 hitting percentage in 16 total attacks while also adding one block assist.
- Hartman added nine kills, a .316 hitting percentage, one solo block and one block assist. Iva Durdanovic finished with eight kills and six digs.
- Ashlyn Roberts and Parker Harrell tied for the team lead in assists with 15 each.
- Baker led the team with 12 digs, while also adding four assists, three service aces and one kill.
- USA finished with 46 kills in three sets for a .337 hitting percentage.
QUOTES
Head Coach Amy Hendrichovsky
On the balanced attack:
"We definitely had a more balanced attack. We were able to get Hannah Harris in the offense; she had a great night tonight. We were able to have high efficiency, serving multiple attackers instead of relying heavily on our outsides or Kelley (Hartman). It was nice to be able to distribute the ball more evenly, and I thought our setters did a really good job of making things better tonight and being able to execute our game plan."
On the third set:
"The third set was exactly what I thought we would get. I really felt like they (Alabama State) would come out fighting, because we took care of business pretty easily in the second set. I told our team that they (ASU) were going to come out and fight for that third set in their home gym, and they did. They came out ahead really early and we had to fight out of a hole, and I was really happy with our team's composure. We didn't make it easy – I think we had just three missed serves down the stretch. But I called a timeout, and after that we really executed well. Everyone was very focused on their job and maintained composure at the end of that set when we were going back and forth for points to win. The environment in this gym was awesome. It's a small gym with a very good, loud crowd; it was a perfect environment for us to get exposed to at this point in the season."
On Alabama State:
"They are a very athletic bunch. They have some very dominant middle blockers, and they attack you with speed. They will give 100 percent effort; they really make you earn points. But we were able to attack them in some of their weaknesses, and I think it really came down to which team was able to execute at the end."
UP NEXT
South Alabama will return to action this weekend with a pair of matches at the War Eagle Invitational at Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala. The Jags will square off with Auburn at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by a noon matchup with Clemson on Saturday.
TXST steals five-set triumph over SHSU on enemy grounds
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Texas State volleyball team snatched a 3-2 (31-33, 25-15, 14-25, 25-20, 15-10) come-from-behind victory over Sam Houston State Tuesday night inside Johnson Coliseum.
The Bobcats (4-2) have now won each of the last eight contests over the Bearkats (1-6) and also completed the two-match season sweep.
The sophomore tandem of Megan Porter and Amy Pflughaupt both registered their second double-doubles of the season. Porter tallied 21 digs and 18 kills, while Pflughaupt finished with 22 digs and 12 kills.
Senior Jaliyah Bolden finished with 17 kills, while junior Madison Daigle added 15 kills and nine blocks. Senior Erin Hoppe (34) and true freshman Brooke Johnson (23) distributed a combined 57 assists, while sophomore Micah Dinwiddie added 15 digs.
The first set was exactly what a fan could expect from two rival programs. The first momentum swing went in favor of the Bearkats when they gained a 13-9 advantage. Texas State played from behind until the visitors were finally able to pull into a 17-17 standstill. The Bobcats went ahead 23-19 and found a pair of set points at 24-22. SHSU fended off those deficits and also swatted away five more set points from TXST. The Bearkats could not convert on their first two attempts at claiming the frame, either, but they shut the door on their third try for the 33-31 win.
The period was the longest for Texas State since playing to a 41-39 second-set triumph over UTA on Nov. 3, 2009.
SHSU was unable to carry the momentum into the second frame, as the maroon and gold pulled ahead late and evened the contest 25-15. The Bearkats were ahead 10-9 at one point, but TXST used a run to take a 17-11 lead and cruised the rest of the way.
The third game went to the home team by a 25-14 margin. The score was tied 6-6, but Sam Houston State went on a 4-1 run and never looked back. The Bearkats went on top 18-9 and stayed ahead for the 11-point margin.
The Bobcat comeback began in the fourth when Texas State secured the frame 25-20. The two sides were locked at 12-12, and a kill from Bolden gave TXST the lead for good. The Bobcats were never able to lead by more than five points, but that was good enough to send the match into a decisive fifth frame.
Sam Houston State looked to be on its way to victory when the home team jumped on top 6-1 in the final period. Texas State would not go down without a fight, however, as the maroon and gold used a 8-0 run to swing the match for good. The Bearkats were never able to get closer than two points the rest of the way, and TXST sealed the night by winning each of the final three points.
Brooke White led the Bearkats with 20 kills and 16 digs. Jordyn Vaughn added 16 kills and Taylor Cunningham threw in 11. Jaclyn White had a double-double with 46 assists and 13 digs, while Addison Miller (16) and Madison Wallace (12) chipped in double-digit digs.
The Bobcats led in kills (70-55), attack percentage (.190-.162), assists (68-51), digs (89-75) and blocks (12-7). SHSU led in aces (6-1).
Texas State is now set to host the 2017 Creeds & Crests Classic Sept. 7-9 inside Strahan Coliseum. The Bobcats will host UTSA, SMU, UMass Lowell and Houston Baptist in the five-team event. Each side will play four matches.
Troy Volleyball Takes Down UAB in Thrilling Five-Setter
TROY, Alabama- Troy (3-5) defeated in-state rival UAB (3-5) in an exciting five-set match 3-2 on Tuesday at the Trojan Arena.
The Blazers took set one 25-21 after going on a five-point run early in the set. Down four, the Trojan rallied back to take four straight from UAB to tie the set at 17-17, but the Blazers were able to hold on to the lead to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Both teams came out strong in the second set to keep things close, but a five-point run in the Trojans' favor swung the momentum in their favor. A kill from Belle Waldrop earned Troy the 25-21 second set win to even the match at 1-1.
Troy struggled with errors in the third set and UAB was able to break through to take a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-17 decision. The Trojans took control of the fourth set early going on a six-point run before the Blazers were able to get on the board. The maintained momentum to win set four 25-16 to force a fifth and final set.
Both sides rallied back and forth t keep the match close, but a burst from the Trojans won them five-of-six points to take an 8-5 lead. The Blazers fought hard to come back, but one away, Savannah Moore had the kill to end the game in favor of the Trojans with a 15-12 final set.
Moore had another dominating performance on the court taking control of the offense and recording a team-high 12 kills and a .417 hitting percentage. Lauren Long added 11 kills, followed by newcomers Cheyenne Hayes and Jenni Young with 10 each.
NOTEWORTHY
Moore also contributed defensively with a team-high seven assisted blocks on the day. Her 16.5 points is the most from any player in a game this season.
Long's 38 total attempts in the in the match is a current team and career-high.
Troy's 61 total kills is the most all season as is the Trojan's 55 assists.
Waldrop continues to lead the team with 83 kills and 90.5 points followed by Long with 77 total kills and Moore with 88.0 points.
UP NEXT
Troy prepares for a long road swing as the Trojans will travel to Morehead, Ky., to compete in the Morehead State Comfort Inn-Vitational on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 8-9. Troy will then close out tournament play in Tuscaloosa at the Crimson and White Tournament hosted by Alabama before beginning conference play in Texas.