University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Volleyball Team Opens Home Schedule Against South Alabama
9/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 4, 2006
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- - The Lady Eagle volleyball team tries to snap a two-match losing streak when they host South Alabama in non-conference action Tuesday. First serve is set for 7 p.m., in the Payne Center. Admission is free compliments of Forrest General Hospital.
Southern Miss concluded its weekend at the Sam Houston State Invitational with a 1-3 record, defeating Louisiana Tech, 3-0 on Friday night. The Lady Eagles lost to North Texas, 3-0, Radford, 3-2, and Sam Houston State, 3-1.
Sophomore Ashley Petrinec was named to the all-tournament team for her performance, finishing the weekend averaging 3.00 kills and 3.53 digs per game. Freshman libero Maia Ivanova recorded a season-high 25 digs against Louisiana Tech. She has recorded 20 or more digs in her last six matches.
Petrinec continues to lead the team in kills with 84, a 3.11 per game average. Ivanova leads the team in digs with 142, a 4.26 per game average and in aces with 11. Mari Ruddick leads the team in attack percentage with .231, while Morgan Johnson leads teh team in total blocks with 20. Kristen Metz has recorded 148 assists.
As a team, Southern Miss is averaging 11.44 kills and 18.30 digs per game with an attack percentage of .136. Seven players have recorded 20 or more kills on the season.
South Alabama comes in with a 2-3 record following a 3-2 loss to Stetson in the FSU Invitational. Jenna Swilley leads the team with 64 kills, while Stephanie Cutter leads the team with 193 assists. Shannon VanAntwerp leads the team in digs with 55.
Head Coach Nicole Keshock is in her fourth season with the Jaguars. She returns seven letterwinners from last year's team. Keshock welcomes five newcomers to the volleyball program. As a team, the Jags are averaging 12.37 kills and 12.11 digs per game with an attack percentage of .175. Four player also have an attack percentage over .200.
Following the USA match, Southern Miss hits the road for its third tournament of the season when the team travels to Boulder, Colo., for the Colorado Invitational, Sept. 8-9.
