The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Samford
Blazers Finish Second At Samford Invitational
9/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 13, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB volleyball team (3-7) split a pair of matches, defeating Samford 3-1 and falling to Western Carolina 3-0 to finish second at the Union State Bank/Samford Invitational held at Seibert Hall on the Samford University campus.
In the tournaments final match, UAB defeated Samford 30-23, 22-30, 30-25, and 30-18. The Blazers were led by all-tournament team members Martina Shields, who had 12 kills in just two games and Karen Boyd, who had 11 kills and three total blocks. Breanne Swenson had a solid match against the Bulldogs, posting her team-leading fifth double-double of the season with 10 kills and 19 digs. Isabel Oquendo replaced Shields at the end of game two and finished with 10 kills and freshman setter Bilun Gunal added 54 assists and seven digs for the Blazers.
"The Samford match was our most consistent performance of the year," said UAB head coach Melinda Claiborne. Bilun came in and did an incredible job of setting. It was a total team effort. I'm very proud of the team. They keep staying persistent and I think they are understanding what it takes to be a good team."
Shannon Smith and Hilary Gary each had 15 kills apiece to lead the Bulldogs. Krista Kettering added 40 assists for Samford.
Shields led UAB with nine kills, 14 digs and two total blocks against Western Carolina in the Blazers' first match of the day, a 30-25, 30-25, 30-16 loss. Jenna Link added 13 assists for UAB.
"Our setting was good in the Western Carolina match, but our ball control was off," said Claiborne. "We just didn't get a consistent performance."
Kellyn Thaut had 11 kills and 12 digs to lead Western Carolina. Shari Harder posted 32 assists for the Catamounts.
UAB will next take on Mississippi State in the Blazers' home opener Tuesday at Bartow Arena at 7 p.m.
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