Troy University Athletics
Troy University
South Alabama
Troy Opens Sun Belt Schedule at South Alabama
9/25/2025 10:22:00 AM | Volleyball
TROY, Ala. – Troy volleyball opens its 2025 Sun Belt schedule this weekend with a trip to in-state rival South Alabama for two matches. The teams will meet on Friday night at 6 p.m. and again Saturday at 2 p.m. Both matches will stream exclusively on ESPN+.
Troy finished non-conference play with a 2-6 record, with both wins coming at home against Jackson State and Mercer. Head coach Josh Lauer and the Trojans purposefully scheduled a challenging first half of the season, facing four Power Four opponents (Georgia, Auburn, Virginia, and Ohio State) along with strong regional programs Samford and Kennesaw State. Despite the losses, only seven of the 22 sets lost by the Trojans were decided by more than five points.
South Alabama enters conference play on a two-game skid with an overall non-conference record of 5-6. The Jaguars also played a demanding slate, facing five Power Four schools and taking sets off Baylor, Mississippi State, and Auburn. South Alabama is undefeated at home this season with a 2-0 record.
Weekend Information
The Matchup: at South Alabama
When: Friday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. | Saturday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m.
Where: Mobile, Ala. - Jaguar Gymnasium
Watch: ESPN+
Stats: TroyTrojans.com/livestats
Passing the Torch
The Trojans have split setting duties between fifth-year senior Jordan Sinness and freshman Madison Marx, who as a duo, have assisted on 78% of Troy's kills this season. Remarkably, the pair's numbers are nearly identical each with 140 assists, while Sinness holds a one dig edge (45–44) and Marx a one ace advantage (6–5).
Scouting South Alabama
65th meeting: Troy leads, 33-31
South Alabama enters conference play with a 5-6 record after falling to Auburn in four sets last Sunday. Offensively, the Jaguars are led by Sarah Gooch (136 kills) and Cambria Gaier (126), with Gaier also ranking among the Sun Belt's best from the service line. Her 20 aces are tied for third in the league and 56th nationally. As a team, South Alabama is hitting .194 while allowing opponents to swing at a .239 clip.
Notables
• Troy is 7-3 in its last 10 meetings with South Alabama dating back to 2020. The Trojans took both matchups last season at Trojan Arena, including a reverse sweep on September 27 powered by 30 kills from Tori Hester.
• Sunday's match at Ohio State marked just the second time this season Troy has gone beyond three sets. The Trojans are 0-2 in five-set matches and 2-4 in straight-set contests, while still awaiting their first four-set match of the year.
• Olivia Kwiatkowski recorded the first double-double of her career against Ohio State, finishing with 16 kills on .357 hitting and a career-high 13 digs. The sophomore now has 67 kills on the season, ranking third on the team behind Amiah Butler (126) and Kalina Calvillo (74).
• Troy head coach Josh Lauer is in his ninth season at the helm, holding a career record of 122-119. He is the second-longest tenured Division I head coach in Troy program history, trailing only Sonny Kirkpatrick, who guided the Trojans for 11 seasons (2006-16).
