BATON ROUGE, La. – The Southern University volleyball team continued its midseason momentum with a four-set victory over Dillard University on Wednesday night inside Seymour Gymnasium, earning a 25-22, 25-15, 20-25, 25-16 win to close out non-conference play.
 
The Jaguars (8-12, 4-3 SWAC) fed off their home crowd and used a balanced offensive attack to topple the Bleu Devils (11-7, 7-1 GCAC). Ariana Brown paced the offense with a match-high 14 kills on a .300 hitting clip, providing steady production from the outside and key swings in each set.
 
Jordan Felix directed the offense with 25 assists, six digs, and three kills, guiding a well-balanced Southern attack that saw six players register at least three kills. Zaria Nelson, Nadia Lewis, Bailee St. Romain, Sereniti Johnson, Elise Doomes, and Sophie Diouf all contributed offensively to keep Dillard's defense off balance.
 
Defensively, Najah Harris once again anchored the back row, collecting 19 digs and keeping Southern in rhythm during long rallies. She was supported by a scrappy defensive unit that saw four other Jaguars finish with at least five digs. At the net, Southern held an 8-5 advantage in total team blocks, with Diouf leading the way with four, while Nelson and Brown each added multiple.
 
Southern took control early in the opening set behind aggressive serving and a balanced offensive approach. Brown and Nelson each recorded timely kills, while Harris provided defensive stability in the back row. A late Dillard rally cut the deficit to two, but a Nelson kill sealed the opening frame for the Jaguars, 25-22.
 
In the second set, Southern controlled the tempo from start to finish, hitting .233 as a team. Felix's precise setting opened up the offense, allowing Brown, Lewis, and Johnson to find consistent success. St. Romain and Diouf added key points late to help the Jaguars take a 2-0 lead with a 25-15 win.
 
Dillard responded in the third set, capitalizing on a series of Southern errors to grab momentum. Despite solid play from Brown and Felix, the Bleu Devils maintained control midway through the frame to claim a 25-20 victory.
 
The Jaguars regrouped quickly in the fourth, using strong serving and solid net defense to take command early. Nelson and Hanna Pereira combined for multiple kills during a 6-0 run, while Harris' back-row coverage limited Dillard's scoring chances. Brown capped the night with her 14th kill and a late service ace to seal the match, 25-16.
 
UP NEXT
Southern will be back in action on October 21, when Southern University at New Orleans makes the trip to Seymour Gym for a 6 p.m. first serve.

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