JONESBORO, Ark. (10/1/21) – Despite trailing by two sets, the Arkansas State volleyball team made a valiant comeback effort, forcing extra points in the fourth set with hopes to send it to a fifth, but South Alabama prevailed for a 3-1 (11-25, 19-25, 25-21, 28-30) victory Friday at First National Bank Arena.
A-State (10-5, 1-2 SBC) boasted a season-best blocking effort with 16 total blocks, the most since Nov. 22, 2015, at Appalachian State (17). Brianna Hollingshed led that effort with seven, while Kendahl Davenport and Josie Stanford each added five. The Jaguars (10-5, 3-0), however, also had a strong day defensively, holding the Red Wolves to a .110 attack percentage.
Macey Putt joined the 1,000-kill club with a match-high 20 on the night, with a career-high 75 attacks. Paulina Sobolewska tallied 11 kills with a .345 attack percentage. Julianna Cramer registered a double-double with 12 assists and 12 digs, while Lauren Musante handed out a team-high 22 assists. Defensively, Tatum Ticknor corralled 21 digs, while Mariah Hesselgesser also aided at the net with four blocks.
Hannah Maddux led USA with 18 kills and a .333 attack percentage, while Carissa Bradford notched 14 kills. Setter Kailey Keeble dished out 46 assists with 18 digs, while also tallying three blocks.
After the Jaguars took a 25-11 decision in the opening set, A-State woke up and made it a tough battle in the second and leading by as much as four midway through the frame. The Jaguars responded to reclaim the lead with a 8-1 run and later taking the last five points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
South Alabama took an early 7-2 lead in the third set, forcing the Red Wolves to call a timeout. After the break, the Scarlet and Black began to surge back to take a 14-13 lead. Later in the set, A-State went on a 4-0 run to give them set point on a block by Hollingshed and Hesselgesser. After USA saved a pair of points, Putt put the Red Wolves on the board with a kill to make it 2-1.
The fourth set was back-and-forth from the start, featuring 19 ties and five lead changes. A-State held three set points late in the action, as the Jaguars would force extra points and ultimately have three opportunities of their own to win the set and clinch the match. After Davenport knocked down a kill to save the second match point of the night, USA took the final two points, ending the contest on a kill by Maddie Soboleski to conclude a 30-28 fourth set.
NEXT UP
A-State returns to the court Saturday evening to close out the weekend, hosting Troy. First serve is set for 6 p.m. and the action will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow the team on Twitter (@AStateVB) and Instagram (astatevb) along with liking the Arkansas State University Volleyball page on Facebook for the latest news and updates regarding the team.
