MOBILE, Ala.?South
Alabama snapped a 23-match Sun Belt Conference volleyball losing streak with a
3-0 (30-28, 30-23, 30-14) victory over visiting ULM Friday night. Brittany Blackwelder led the Jaguars with 11
kills, while Johanna Spreen and Candice Howell paced ULM with seven kills each.
The Warhawks (0-18, 0-5 Sun Belt) rallied from down 17-12 in
the opening game with a 12-5 run propelling them to a 24-22 lead; the run was spurred by a block by
Stephanie Wardach and Jessica Ayodele.
The teams traded points back-and-forth, until USA broke open a 27-27 tie with a
kill by Blackwelder. A Warhawk attack error pushed the score to 29-27
and Jenna Swilley blasted one of her 10 kills to close out the game.
Hristina Markova had 10 kills joining Blackwelder and
Swilley in double-figures for the Jaguars (6-10, 1-5). Maria Kashavelova ran the South
Alabama offense with 36 assists and Shannon Vanantwerp anchored
the defense with 10 digs.
Ashley Onley and Ilima Sam Fong split time setting for ULM with 13 and 11
assists, respectively, while Sam Fong led the Warhawks defensive charge with
eight digs.
South Alabama jumped out
17-10 lead in game two before the Warhawks charged back and tied the game at
21-21 on a kill by Spreen. The Jaguars
scored nine of the final 11 points in the game, taking a 30-23 victory and a
2-0 lead.
The Jaguars stormed out of the break rushing to a 12-2
lead. South Alabama
hit a match-high .407 (14-3-27) in the third game and finished with a .221 (43-22-95)
mark for the match. ULM also posted its
best hitting of the match in game three, posting a .115 (9-6-26) mark and a
.039 (29-25-103) tally for the match.
The Warhawks continue their Alabama
road trip with a stop at Troy
(12-10, 3-3) on Sunday for a 1:00 pm match.
