Southern University

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Southern University volleyball team dropped a pair of matches Friday at Foster Auditorium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, falling to Jacksonville State in straight sets before battling Nicholls through five sets to close the day.
 
Jacksonville State 3, Southern 0
Jacksonville State opened the day with a 3-0 victory over Southern, taking the match 25-19, 25-23, 25-23.
 
The Jaguars stayed within striking distance throughout the opening set, but Jacksonville State used a strong offensive attack to take the frame, 25-19. Southern finished the set with 10 kills but was held to a .026 hitting percentage.
 
Southern responded in the second set with its best offensive performance of the first two frames. The Jaguars recorded 15 kills and hit .190, but Jacksonville State held on for a 25-23 victory to take a 2-0 match lead.
 
The Jaguars again competed closely in the third set, hitting .175 with 15 kills. Southern remained within reach late in the frame, but Jacksonville State closed out the set, 25-23, to complete the straight-set victory.
 
Sereniti Johnson led the Jaguars offensively with 16 kills while hitting .297. The sophomore also added seven digs and an ace. Mariah Mott followed with her first career double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs, while Norielle Battle contributed four kills and three blocks.
 
Penina Vito guided the Southern offense with 35 assists while adding seven digs and an ace. Najah Harris anchored the defensive effort with a team-high 19 digs and an ace.
 
Southern finished the match with 40 kills on 121 attacks, 39 assists and 53 digs. The Jaguars recorded five blocks and three aces.
 
Nicholls 3, Southern 2
Southern closed Friday's action with a five-set matchup against Nicholls, taking the opening set before the Colonels rallied for a 3-2 victory, 21-25, 25-19, 25-19, 21-25, 15-10.
 
The Jaguars established control early in the opening set, using a .250 hitting percentage to take a 25-21 victory. Southern recorded 10 kills while committing just two errors in the frame.
 
Nicholls answered in the second set, overcoming Southern's nine kills to take the frame, 25-19. The Colonels carried that momentum into the third set, where Southern struggled offensively and Nicholls took a 2-1 match lead with another 25-19 victory.
 
Facing defeat, the Jaguars produced their strongest offensive set of the match in the fourth. Southern registered 16 kills on 37 attacks and hit .297, pulling away for a 25-21 victory and forcing a decisive fifth set.
 
Nicholls took an early advantage in the final frame and held off the Jaguars, 15-10, to secure the five-set victory.
 
Mott led Southern with 17 kills and 10 digs, while Johnson added 14 kills, 12 digs and an ace. Reagan Robinson provided an efficient offensive performance with eight kills on a  .368 hitting  percentage with 13 digs. Alayah Wilson contributed seven kills and hit .333.
 
Vito recorded 40 assists and 11 digs while adding an ace, while Harris turned in a match-high 27 digs.
 
The Jaguars totaled 54 kills, 50 assists and 81 digs against Nicholls while recording eight blocks and four aces.
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Jaguars return to action on Saturday to take on Alabama at 11 am on SECNetwork+.

FOLLOW THE JAGUARS
For complete coverage of Southern University Athletics, please follow the Jaguars on social media at @SouthernUsports(Twitter), @SouthernUJaguars (Facebook), @southernusports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Southern University Athletics at www.gojagsports.com

#GoJags   #SouthernIsTheStandard   #ProwlOn   #BeyondTheStandard