MOBILE, Ala. - The University of South Alabama volleyball team will close out the 2009 season this weekend when it hosts Sun Belt Conference foes Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky. First serve versus the Blue Raiders on Friday is set for 7 p.m., while USA and the Lady Toppers are set to begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Jag Gym.
"Our schedule is so unique in the fact that we play Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky almost back-to-back," South Alabama head coach Nicole Keshock. "I know that they will come in this weekend trying to get prepared for the conference tournament. They will both be very competitive teams and I just hope that we are able to finish the season on a strong note."
Both matches this weekend 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. Admission is free. Free pizza will also be given out to students.
Prior to the match on Friday, USA will honor its two seniors - Taylor Irvin and Tereza Bendlova.
"It's hard to realize that Taylor and Tereza are seniors," Keshock said of the two Jags. "Taylor has been with the program, but she has had some injury issues and I feel like her time shouldn't be done. The same with Tereza. While she hasn't had the injury issues, she came to us a sophomore. They both have been great players for our program who have been very coachable and have shown great leadership in this their senior year."
South Alabama comes into action this weekend, hoping to close the season on a high note. This past weekend, USA dropped a 3-1 decision to in-state rival Troy at Jag Gym. The Jags enter the match versus Middle Tennessee with an 11-17 overall record and a 2-13 mark in the SBC.
Juliana Almeida continues to lead the club offensively with 3.11 kills per set. Almeida has been the main weapon for the Jags so far this season as she has 11 double-doubles, including a 10 kill, 14 dig performance against Troy. Hristina Markova is second on the club with 2.46 kills per set.
Defensively, sophomore middle blocker has been solid all season long for USA. She currently leads the team in blocks per set (1.10), block assists (96) and total blocks (100). She also ranks among the league leaders in blocks, entering play this weekend ranked second behind Middle Tennessee's Janey Yancey in the Sun Belt.
Kari Frazier ranks fifth in the Sun Belt in service aces with 0.30 and Markova is tied with three other players for sixth with 0.29.
Middle Tennessee enters the weekend with a 20-8 record and a 13-2 mark in Sun Belt action. This past weekend, the Blue Raiders split their two matches, picking up a 3-0 victory over Florida Atlantic on Friday, but falling 3-1 to SBC East Division leader Florida International on Saturday. The loss to the Golden Panthers snapped an 11-match win streak for MTSU.
Offensively, Izabela Kozon (3.55) and Ashley Mead (3.36) lead the Blue Raider attack. Kozon ranks fifth in the league in that category, while Mead is eighth heading into action this week. Kozon also ranks second in the Sun Belt in aces.
Middle Tennessee has been extremely efficient on the offensive side of the net. In the latest rankings, MTSU leads the SBC in hitting percentage and ranks ninth in the NCAA, coming in at .285. Individually, the Blue Raiders have two of the top three players in the league in hitting percentage, led by sophomore hitter Stacy Oladinni. Oladinni is hitting .414 and ranks eighth nationally.
In conference matches, Middle Tennessee leads the league in hitting percentage (.306), opponent's hitting percentage (.139) and blocks (2.87).
Like the Blue Raiders, Western Kentucky enters play this weekend after splitting its two matches last weekend. WKU also fell 3-1 to Florida International, but bounced back to sweep FAU 3-0 in Bowling Green. The Lady Toppers currently stand at 22-8 overall and 11-4 in conference-play and will open the road swing at Troy on Friday.
As they have done throughout much of the season, Western Kentucky has used a balanced offensive attack this year as five players are averaging over 2.00. Jordyn Skinner leads the club with 2.43 kills per set. Emily Teegarden (2.36 kps), Tiffany Elmore (2.35 kps) and Brittany Bowen (2.20 kps) are close behind Skinner. Elmore also ranks fourth in the SBC in hitting percentage at .345.
The serve/receive game has also been a strength this season for the Hilltoppers, as they are averaging 1.57 aces per set - second-most in the SBC. Lindsey Gould leads the league in that category with 0.44 per set, while Lauren Stuckelis tied for second with Kozon at 0.33. True freshman Sarah Rogers also ranks among the league leaders in that category - tied for sixth at 0.29.
Along with service aces, Western Kentucky ranks second in the Sun Belt in hitting percentage (.265), opponent's hitting percentage (.172), blocks (2.28) as a team.
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 Blue Raiders hold a perfect 11-0 record in the all-time series versus the Jags, including a 3-0 sweep in Murfreesboro in the first meeting this season. The meeting between South Alabama and Western Kentucky on Saturday will be the 41st between the two squads. WKU has won 19-straight in the series and 28 of the last 29 meetings. The last win for the Jags against the Lady Toppers came back during the 1995 season when USA picked up a 3-1 (13-15, 15-13, 15-9, 15-7) victory in Mobile.
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