The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
GREEN AND GOLD SCRIMMAGE
Blazers Edged In Green and Gold Scrimmage, 3-2
8/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 20, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The 2005 UAB volleyball team opened up competition on Saturday night with a hard-fought, 3-2 loss in the annual Green and Gold scrimmage at Bartow Arena. The Blazers took the court against a squad of former UAB players, including Martina Shields and Brianna Galvin.
The Blazers were led in kills by freshman Ivana Bozic, who racked up 16 in the match. Fellow freshman Nevena Stefanov also finished with a match-best 54 assists. Isabel Oquendo contributed 13 kills and 15 digs. Shields and Shelly Greene combined for 29 kills for the alumni squad.
"I thought we did well in the aspects of the game that we've been focusing on in practice," said co-interim head coach Nikola Petrovic. "We'll be focusing on other elements of our game in the coming weeks."
Game one opened with the teams trading points back and forth until the alumni squad took a 23-18 lead at the first timeout. Despite kills from Bozic, Casey Dent and Oquendo after the stoppage in play, the alumni team put together a strong run, finishing off the Blazers by a score of 30-27.
UAB came out of the gate strong in game two, doubling up the alumni, 14-7, at the first timeout. Strong play from Stefanov and other Blazers gave them a decisive 30-21 victory to even the match at one game apiece.
After a 30-26 Blazers' victory in game three, the alumni squad rebounded for a 30-26 win of their own in game four.
In the fifth and deciding contest, the teams traded points and an Oquendo kill on game point for the alumni tied the score at 14. But two straight kills gave the alumni a 16-14 win and match victory.
UAB returns to action on Friday, Aug. 26 when the Blazers host Auburn in an exhibition match at Bartow Arena. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
