The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Jacksonville State
Blazers Split A Pair Of Matches At Crimson Tide Invitational
9/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 19, 2003
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - UAB (5-8) split a pair of matches, defeating Georgia Southern 3-1 and falling to Jacksonville State 3-0 in volleyball action Friday at the Crimson Tide Invitational hosted on the University of Alabama Campus.
UAB lost to Jacksonville State 31-29, 30-26, 30-20 in the Blazers' second match of the tournament. Senior outside hitter Martina Shields led UAB with 14 points on 13 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Breanne Swenson added 13 points on 10 kills and three total blocks and senior middle blocker Karen Boyd posted 10.5 points on eight kills and three total blocks, while hitting for .467 for UAB.
After recording a career-high 57 assists in UAB's victory over Georgia Southern earlier in the day, freshman setter Bilun Gunal was limited to only 10 assists against JSU after leaving in game one with an injury. Freshman setter Jenna Link came on in relief of Gunal and had 23 assists for the Blazers.
Sophomore outside hitter Suzi Terrell had 16 points on 13 kills, two service aces and two total blocks to go along with a .500 hitting percentage to lead Jacksonville State (7-3). Freshman setter Emily Withers added 40 assists for the Gamecocks.
UAB defeated Georgia Southern 33-31, 22-30, 30-28, 31-29 in the first match of the day. Shields led UAB, recording her fourth double-double of the season with 23 points on 21 kills, 15 digs and two total blocks. Boyd had 12.5 points on 11 kills and three total blocks, while hitting for .318 for the Blazers. Freshman middle blocker Cassi Ociesa and sophomore outside hitter Isabel Oquendo each had 10 kills apiece for UAB. Ociesa hit for .350 and had seven total blocks and Oquendo posted a .364 hitting percentage while recording three total blocks. Gunal had a career-high 57 assists and Swenson posted 15 points on nine kills, five service aces and two total blocks for the Blazers.
"The Georgia Southern match proved to be our best offensive flow of the season," said UAB head coach Melinda Claiborne. "We really played good team volleyball in the match.
"When we changed setters in the Jacksonville State match it really took us out of our rhythm. But, we are still fighting to be consistent and it really wasn't a good team effort in the match."
Senior outside hitter Martina Veiglova of Georgia Southern led the match with 29 points on 21 kills and seven service aces, while recording 14 digs and hitting for .333. Sophomore setter Susan Winkelman and senior libero/setter Jessica Lippi posted 27 assists and 26 assists respectively for the Eagles.
The Crimson Tide Invitational continues Saturday as UAB faces Alabama at 1:30 p.m. in the Blazers' final match of the tournament.
