Jags Volleyball Looks To Lock Up Tournament Bid This Weekend
South Alabama’s volleyball team is looking to secure a bid to the Sun Belt Conference tournament this weekend. They need a win over Florida Atlantic or Florida International to do so.
The Jags will travel to play FAU on Friday night then will travel to FIU for a match on Saturday. Both are set to start at 5:30pm.
“Florida Atlantic always plays hard and gives it their best, and I expect no different this weekend,” head coach Amy Hendrichovsky said. “Florida International has been putting up impressive blocking statistics against many opponents this season. For us to offset that, we’re going to have to be in system and continue to be aggressive. FIU is obviously going to get its blocks with it being their strength. We just have to stick to our strengths and keep our offense balanced.”
The Jags go into this final weekend with a 13-15 record (6-7 SBC) and on a four match losing streak.
Offensively, sophomore Melissa Waelter leads the way for the Jags. She is eighth in the Sun Belt with an average of 3.17 kills per set. She is also in a three-way tie for fourth in the conference in aces with 0.3 per match. She recorded 17 kills against MTSU on Friday night.
Savannah Stewart, a true freshman, leads the team in kills with 288 and ranks second on the team in kills per set with 2.72. She has also earned eight double-doubles this season.
The Jags are third in the conference in digs with 15.23 per match. Junior libero Jenna Hassell is seventh in the conference in digs with an average of 4 per match.
FAU is 6-18 on the season and 1-12 in the Sun Belt and have lost their last seven matches entering this week. They lost a straight set decision to FIU last weekend 3-0. They are 3-5 at home this season and have only one conference win against ULL back on October 5.
FIU is 8-17 on the season (5-8 SBC) coming off of their win over FAU last weekend. They have won three of their last five matches in a late push to try to earn a berth in the SBC Tournament.
Heading into this weekend they are seventh place in the conference and only needed a win in one of their two matches this weekend to lock up their bid to the tournament.