JACKSONVILLE – The Gamecocks lost in three sets for the second time against Western Kentucky Saturday in the opening weekend of Conference USA action. Although Jax State took the loss, the match showed improvements that the Gamecocks can be excited for moving forward.
The Hilltoppers (9-6, 2-0) defeated Jax State (7-8, 0-2) 25-20, 25-19, and 25-21 at Pete Mathews Coliseum. The Gamecocks recorded 38 kills, six service aces, 37 assists, and 36 digs as a squad. The 36 digs were nine more than the Hilltoppers' 27 and the six aces matched WKU.
"The girls did great," head coach
Derek Schroeder said. "We're playing really good volleyball in moments, and we just talked about after the match, stacking those moments. We're trying to take a team like Western Kentucky and realize how clean they play. We get away with too many things in our practice gym that aren't clean. Then we play a good volleyball team and don't understand why we're not coming out on the winning end."
Kayla Williams reached double-digit kills with 12 to lead the way for Jax State.
Hana Aiana had eight kills on 15 attempts for a .467 hit percentage and the second most kills on the team.
Katelyn Crofts,
Caty Havekost, and
Sanni Rantanen all added five kills in the match.
Ellie Garrett accounted for 31 assists, six digs, two kills, and two service aces.
Brooklyn Schiffli had eight digs, five assists, two aces, and a kill in the libero position. Defensively, Williams added seven digs. Rantanen and Aiana both had a block assist.
"This weekend, although it's two losses and it stings at the end of the day, really helps us realize, 'oh this is what Dex is talking about at practice to help us clean up,'" Schroeder added. "Stacking those moments of high-end volleyball that we are finding, stacking them for 20 minutes, which is a set, 40 minutes, which is two sets, an hour and a half, which is four sets, that sort of thing."
The Gamecocks will move on to face Liberty on the road Oct. 4-5. The Flames (8-6, 2-0) beat Louisiana Tech 3-1 on Friday and 3-0 on Saturday in Ruston, La. to begin conference play. The matches next weekend will be streaming on ESPN+ and live stats will be available at JaxStateSports.com.
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