FLORENCE, AL. – Jacksonville State suffered back-to-back loses for the first time in the 2024 season. UAB and Arkansas State got the best of the Gamecocks in consecutive five set matches at the UNA Invitational.
 
In the first match of the day, UAB jumped on Jax State early winning the first set 25-23 and the second 25-17. The Gamecocks forced a fifth set after winning the third set 25-18 and the fourth 25-22. The Blazers took the fifth set by a score of 15-12.
 
The second match against Arkansas State was the opposite of the UAB match for the Red-and-White. Jax State jumped out to an early lead after a 25-23 set one victory and a 25-22 set two win. The Red Wolves took down the Gamecocks in the third set 25-15 and forced a fifth set after a 25-21 set four win. Arkansas State clinched the match victory in a 15-7 fifth set.
 
"I am proud of the heart we showed today," head coach Derek Schroeder said. "We went down ugly and fought back versus UAB, and we came out strong versus Arkansas State after getting 20 minutes of rest and having to get ready to play again. Wish we could have finished one of those for a win, but not any teams out there are designed to play five straight hours of volleyball."
 
In the UAB match, Kayla Williams led the Gamecocks with 20 kills, followed by Hana Aiana with 11, and Caty Havekost with 10, respectively. Ellie Garrett had another double-double as she posted a team-best 41 assists and was second on the team with 17 digs. She added nine kills on a team-high .381 hit percentage as well. Brooklyn Schiffli led the squad with 26 digs against the blazers.
 
Against Arkansas State, Williams led the Red-and-White in kills again with 17, Garrett had a team-best 36 assists, and Schiffli had a team-high 20 digs. Luci Wilkinson had 13 digs, while Madison Konopka had 12 digs against the Red Wolves. Havekost was second in kills with 10. Hana Aiana and Garrett tied for a team-high five blocks.
 
The Gamecocks will take on North Alabama Saturday at 3 p.m. to close out the UNA Invitational. The match will be streaming on ESPN+ for fans who cannot attend.
 
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