The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Alabama A&M
Blazers Win UAB Invitational
9/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 27, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB volleyball team (7-9) defeated Alabama A&M 3-2 to win the UAB Invitational hosted at Bartow Arena. The Bulldogs finished as the runner-up and Mercer University took third place.
Sophomore outside hitter Breanne Swenson had 25.5 points on 19 kills and tied a career high with six service aces to lead UAB against the Bulldogs. Senior middle blocker Karen Boyd posted 16.5 points on 14 kills and sophomore outside/right side hitter Lindsay Carnohan recorded her first career double-double for the Blazers with 15.5 points on 12 kills, two service aces three total blocks to go along with 18 digs. Freshman setter Jenna Link, the tournament's MVP, posted her third double-double of the season, recording 39 assists and 11 digs while hitting for .364 and knocking down five kills.
Boyd and senior outside hitter Martina Shields were also named to the all-tournament team.
After being tied at 10 in game one, UAB took the lead and never looked back en route to a 30-26 win.
The second game saw the score tied 15 times with the lead changing hands five times. UAB was able to pull ahead 27-26 late and held on for a 30-26 victory.
Game three was a back and forth battle, but after being tied at 27, Alabama A&M rattled off three straight points for a 30-27 win.
With the score tied at eight in game four, Alabama A&M used a 7-0 run to pull ahead for a 30-21 victory.
UAB used a 7-0 run to get out to an 11-3 lead in game five and prevailed 15-10.
"I think that we really lost control of the match after the second game and Alabama A&M did an incredible job of coming in and playing some really good volleyball and got us out of our system," said UAB head coach Melinda Claiborne. "That is a team that has consistently been in the NCAA Tournament and they deserve to be there.
"I think overall we showed some really good team performances, as far as the team really sticking with each other."
Junior middle hitter/outside hitter Phyllis Hetie had 21 points on 19 kills and four total blocks to go along with 18 digs and a .325 hitting percentage. Junior setter Princess Dixson posted a triple-double for the Bulldogs, recording 16 points on 11 kills and five total blocks to go along with 36 assists, 12 digs and a .381 hitting percentage.
Alabama A&M defeated Mercer 30-26, 20-30, 25-30, 30-27, 15-12 earlier in the day.
UAB next begins Conference USA play as the team travels to Greenville, N.C. to face East Carolina Friday at 7 p.m. (ET).
