South Alabama Jaguars women’s volleyball team is set to begin its 2025 season with two matches in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Jaguars will first face No. 20 Baylor on Friday, August 29 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, followed by a matchup against LSU on Saturday, August 30 at the same venue.
The meeting with Baylor marks the third time these teams have played each other. Baylor leads the series 2-0, with their last contest taking place in 1991 during the Sam Houston State Invitational. In that match, Baylor won in straight sets (15-2, 15-5, 15-10). The only other meeting occurred in 1989 at the Tulane Invitational where Baylor also came out on top.
Baylor enters this season ranked No. 20 in the preseason AVCA Top 25 Poll after finishing last year with a record of 23-8 and a conference mark of 14-4 in the Big 12. The Bears have maintained a spot in the AVCA Top 25 for over one hundred consecutive weeks and reached their ninth-straight NCAA Tournament last fall. Four starters return from that squad including middle blockers Victoria Davis and Gabrielle Essix, both named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team.
On Saturday, South Alabama will play LSU for their ninth meeting overall. LSU holds a significant advantage in the series at seven wins to one. Their most recent encounter was in Baton Rouge during the Tiger Classic in September of 1998 when LSU secured a four-set victory (16-14, 6-15, 15-12, 15-4). South Alabama’s only win against LSU came back in the Lamar Invitational in Beaumont, Texas during the early eighties.
LSU concluded last season with a record of 15-12 overall and finished seventh in SEC play. For this upcoming campaign they are projected to finish eighth according to coaches’ polls. Outside hitters Jurnee Robinson and Nia Washington were selected as Preseason all-SEC players; Washington was also included on the AVCA Division I Player of the Year Watch List.
The Jaguars enter this season after posting an overall record of 15-12 and going 11-5 within Sun Belt Conference play last year. They are predicted to finish third in their division according to preseason coaches’ voting. Eleven players return from last year’s roster along with five newcomers joining for this campaign.
Among those returning are Anna Loberg—named SBC Preseason Setter of the Year—who finished second among all Sun Belt players for assists (1,022) and assists per set (10.12), recording double-digit assists throughout much of last season’s schedule: “She also had 10 double-doubles and recorded thirty or more assists in twenty of the Jaguars’ twenty-seven matches.” Sarah Gooch also returns after ranking second on her team for kills (288) and points per set (3.26): “She emerged as offensive threat in Sun Belt play as she averaged three point two three kills per set which ranked tenth in league.”
Defensively Briana Wilson stands out: “Briana Wilson elevated herself to one of Sun Belt’s top defenders…ranked among conference leaders…fifth with four point five zero digs per set…and four hundred fifty-five total.”
Fans can follow updates about South Alabama volleyball via social media @SouthAlabamaVB or by visiting USAJaguars.com.
