The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Charlotte
Blazers Fall To Charlotte, 3-0
10/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 2, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Behind a match-high 19.5 points on a match-high 17 kills to go along with three total blocks and a .481 hitting percentage by junior middle blocker Lisa Newell, Charlotte defeated UAB 3-0 in Conference USA volleyball action Saturday evening at Bartow Arena.
Sophomore right side hitter Jessica Oldenburg had 13 points on 13 kills, while hitting for .455, and junior outside hitter Abbey Szlanfucht added 10 points on six kills, three service aces and two total blocks, while recording 10 digs for the 49ers. Senior setter Molly McDonald posted a match-high 40 assists for Charlotte (14-5, 1-1 Conference USA).
UAB (1-11, 0-2 C-USA) was led by freshman middle blocker Nicole Bowland who had 13 points on 12 kills while hitting for .310. Sophomore setter Jenna Link added 28 assists for the Blazers.
"I think we still continue to struggle with overall consistency," said UAB head coach Melinda Claiborne. "We have some players, like Nicole Bowland, who is doing an outstanding job as a freshman, who is not playing like a freshman. She has a great attitude and just overall, is doing an awesome job. We had some real solid spots. We have some players who are capable of playing better that are not. Until we get all the pistons firing at once, we are not coming with enough experience to be able to rely on one or two people. It's a matter of understanding that we are capable to put together a consistent performance like tonight, night in and night out, no matter who we are facing."
The teams battled back and forth in game one, with Charlotte edging the Blazers 32-30.
In game two, the 49ers out hit UAB .294-.069 en route to a 30-20 victory.
The story was much the same in game three as Charlotte once again out hit UAB .333-.158 in taking the contest 30-22.
UAB returns home to Bartow Arena Tuesday to face Mercer (7-9, 2-2 Atlantic Sun) at 7 p.m.
