The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Memphis
Blazers Fall at Home to Memphis
11/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 5, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-- The UAB volleyball team suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Conference USA rival Memphis on Friday evening in Bartow Arena. With the loss, the Blazers fall to 0-10 in conference play, 1-21 overall. The Tigers are now 24-7 and 8-2 in C-USA. Isabel Oquendo racked up a double-double for the Blazers with an 11-kill, 10-dig performance. Cassi Ociesa also put together a strong performance with nine kills and six block assists. Memphis was led by Nancy Nellans' 13 kills and 15 digs.
"It was a good match overall," said UAB head coach Melinda Claiborne. "That third game showed how close we are. We're right there. We're getting more consistent play and learning how to capitalize off momentum."
Game one was tied at five early on before Memphis put together a run and took a 17-12 lead. The Blazers kept fighting back and found themselves down by just two at 20-22 after a solo block by Shaniquwa Cooper and Memphis setting error. With the Tigers leading 25-24, a Memphis attack error tied the score for the first time since early in the game. But the Tigers would pull away from there, clinching a 30-27 victory on a Nellans kill.
After a 30-23 Memphis win in the second game, the Blazers came back strong in game three. A UAB block tied the score at twelve and Angie Ping followed with a kill, giving the Blazers a 13-12 lead. UAB extended its lead to 17-13, the largest of the night so far for the Blazers before Memphis head coach Carrie Yerty called a timeout. But the Tigers scratched and clawed their way back to tie the game at 27 after a controversial call and ten-minute delay in the action. Leading 30-29, Memphis' Nellans stepped up to the service line and came through with an ace, capping off the comeback and clinching the match for her team.
The Blazers wrap up their home schedule Saturday night when they host Saint Louis in Bartow Arena at 7 p.m.
