Box Score MOBILE, Ala. -- South Alabama used a career-high eight service aces from setter Kelly Weiler to propel the Jaguars to a 3-0 (15-8, 15-12, 15-8 sweep) of Denver in Sun Belt Conference volleyball action Friday night at Jaguar Gym. With the win, USA improves to 5-7 and 1-2 in the Sun Belt, while the Pioneers fall to 7-8 and 1-2.
Weiler came into the match leading the conference with 0.79 service aces per game, a total which also was second in the nation. With Friday night's performance her serving accounted for almost a fourth of USA's 35 points. In all, USA tallied 17 aces on the Pioneers.
USA's Holly Miller led all players with 15 kills. Junior outside hitter Kellie Savage (Arvada, Colo. / Arvada West) was the only player in double-figure kills with 10; she and sister Kristin Savage both had a match-high-tying six digs.
"I don't care who we play; we are not going to win when we have 17 reception errrors," said head coach Beth Kuwata. "Once we got a pass to the setter, we were fine. We made all the hustle plays and played well within the system, but every time South Alabama went back to serve we tightened up. We know we can play well at home; they question is whether we can adapt to changes and play well on the road."
The Pioneers conclude their weekend road trip Saturday with a 7 p.m. conference match at New Orleans.
DENVER VOLLEYBALLat Mobile, Ala. (Jaguar Gym)South Alabama 3, DENVER 1 1 2 3DENVER (7-8, 1-2 Sun Belt) 8 12 8South Alabama (5-7, 1-2 Sun Belt) 15 15 15DENVER: Kills 32 (Kellie Savage 10); Digs 28 (Kellie Savage 6, KristinSavage 6); Blocks 3.0 (Kellie Savage 2); Assists 27 (Clarice Golesh 25).SOUTH ALABAMA: Kills 45 (Holly Miller 15); Digs 20 (Miller 6); Blocks 7.0(Kelly Weiler 5); Assists 30 (Weiler 27).T: 1:15. A: 95.
