Jag Volleyball Comes Up Short In ASICS Classic
The South Alabama Jaguar volleyball team got started on their 2014 schedule over the weekend at the ASICS Classic in Malibu, California. Their matches were close, but the Jags just could not get over the hump in several sets over the weekend.
They opened the weekend with a straight set loss to Pepperdine (22-25, 23-25, 17-25). Mechell Daniel led the Jags with 11 kills whiel Nikki Gittens added six and Jessica Lewis and Symone Stephenson both added five. Emily Hundt earned her first double-double of the season with 16 assista, a match-best, and 12 digs. Jenna Hassel, returning fron an injury, recorded a match-high 15 digs while Emma Anderson added 14 assists.
The Jags had a 48-36 advantage in digs, but Pepperdine had nearly twice as many service aces as the Jags (11-6). They also limited the Jags to a .107 hitting percentage.
Pepperdine led 7-6 in the first set when the Jags scored six consecutive points, but the Wave scored six in a row themselves to get back into the set. The teams were tied at 22 when a kill by Pepperdine led to three straight points to give them the 1-0 advantage.
They continued that streak in the next set by opening with six of the first seven points of the match, half of them coming from Samantha Cash on aces. Trailing 16-10, the Jags responded with four consecutive kills from Hundt, Daniel and Mallory Moore to close within two points at 18-16. Pepperdine would later take the set with a kill to take a 2-0 advantage.
The Jags jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the final set on Hassell’s ace and kills by Daniel and Moore. Evening the match at 13, the two teams exchanged points before the Wave took advantage of three errors and a kill from Olivia Okoro to go up by four points. They would then cruise to the end of the set to take the match 3-0.
On Saturday the Jags fell twice, first to Oral Roberts 1-3 then to Nevada 1-3 to round out their weekend.
Against Oral Roberts, redshirt senior libero Jenna Hassell moved into third place on the Jagaur career digs list with 1,289 all-time in the two losses. Sophomore outside hitter Jessica Lewis combined for 28 kills on Saturday as well.
The Jags will return to action this weeke with three matches at the University of Wyoming Classic where they face Wyoming, Montana and Ball State in Laramie, Wyoming.