South Alabama’s volleyball team will hold its annual Red vs. Blue Match on Friday at Jag Gym, marking the unofficial start of the 2025 season. The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. and serves as an intrasquad scrimmage before the official campaign begins later this month.
There will be no video broadcast or live statistics for the match, but fans can keep up with updates through the team’s social media accounts @SouthAlabamaVB on X.
The Jaguars return a strong core from last season, which saw them finish with a 15-12 overall record and an 11-5 mark in Sun Belt Conference play. Four starters are back, including starting libero Briana Wilson and ten letterwinners. Notably, all-conference players Anna Loberg (first team) and Sarah Gooch (second team) headline the group of returnees.
Loberg was second in the Sun Belt for assists last year with 1,022—eighth-most in a single season at South Alabama—and averaged 10.12 assists per set. She was also named SBC Setter of the Week twice during the season. Gooch contributed as one of the team’s top offensive threats, ranking second in kills (288), kills per set (2.85), points (329.5), and points per set (3.26).
Briana Wilson made an impact as starting libero, finishing fifth in conference digs per set (4.50) and totaling 455 digs across 24 matches with double-digit digs, including eight matches with at least 20.
Dalayla Blackwell emerged as one of the top middle hitters among freshmen in the league by recording 120 kills and ranking third in attack percentage (.338). She also registered 64 total blocks.
Seven new athletes have joined South Alabama’s roster: redshirts Alexa Strandberg and Eva Dittmar along with newcomers Rachel Rossman, Cambria Gaier, Elyse Heffner, Halle Norvell, and Marissa Taix.
The Red Team roster includes Marissa Taix, Addison Hurst, Elyse Heffner, Cambria Gaier, Maradith O’Gorman, Rachel Rossman, Alexa Strandberg, and Megan Smith.
The Blue Team features Sarah Gooch, Eva Dittmar, Emily Ready, Dalayla Blackwell, Anna Loberg, Bri Wilson, Halle Norvell, and Preslee Thompson.
After Friday’s scrimmage concludes preseason preparations at home for South Alabama Volleyball https://usajaguars.com/sports/womens-volleyball, the Jaguars will travel to Tallahassee to face Florida State in an exhibition match on August 23 before opening their regular season against Baylor on August 29 and LSU on August 30 in Baton Rouge.
For more information about South Alabama Volleyball or to follow their progress throughout the season via social media or their official website https://usajaguars.com/.
