MOBILE, Ala. (10/6/23) – Arkansas State volleyball started strong on Friday against South Alabama, but could not overcome a late surge by the Jaguars and dropped a 3-1 (22-25, 25-13, 25-16, 25-8) decision Friday night inside Jaguar Gym.

The Red Wolves (11-6, 1-4 SBC) took the opening frame 25-22 and held leads in the second and third sets, but the Jaguars (14-3, 5-0) hit .276 and served nine aces in taking the win.

Yazmyn Billings led A-State with 10 kills on 24 attacks (.333) to go along with a match-high four blocks. Setter Erin Madigan handed out 29 assists and tallied five kills, while Sarah Martinez corralled 23 digs.

A-State held an early 7-4 lead in the opening set on an ace by Martinez, and expanded that advantage to 13-7 before the hosts utilized a timeout. After upping the margin to 18-11 on a Madigan kill, the Jaguars clawed back to take a 21-19 lead, but the Red Wolves scratched back with six of the last seven points to clinch the set and take a 1-0 lead in the contest.

USA took the first five points of the second set, and maintained that momentum en route to opening its lead to as much as 14. A-State answered with a 4-0 run to pull within 10, but a service ace by Niki Capizzi ended it and knotted up the match at a set apiece.

The sides traded leads early in the third set before a 5-0 run moved the Jaguars ahead 15-8. South Alabama later expanded its lead to as much as 10 before clinching the 25-16 set victory on a kill by Hannah Maddux – one of her 14 in the contest. USA then rode that momentum into the fourth set, taking it 25-8 to end the match.

NEXT UP

A-State looks to bounce back against South Alabama on Saturday, with first serve against the Jaguars slated for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

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