The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Memphis
Blazers Turn the Tables, Beat Memphis 3-0
9/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 30, 2007
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| CSTV Highlights 
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Hosting its first-ever nationally televised match in Bartow Arena Sunday afternoon, the UAB volleyball team avenged an early season loss to Memphis by shutting out the Tigers, 3-0 (30-20, 30-19, 30-20), in front of a raucous crowd. The Blazers improve to 11-6 (2-2 C-USA) with the win, while Memphis is now 12-7 (2-2 C-USA).
The match will be aired on tape-delay Tuesday at 7 p.m. on CSTV.
"I was really pleased with how we played today," said UAB head coach Kerry Messersmith. "Our girls came out with a lot of fire and that was key. We got some big blocks early and that helped set the tone. The crowd was great and to see the student-athletes out there was great. It really made us proud to be Blazers today."
Junior setter Nevena Stefanov stole the show in a matchup of two of the top setters in Conference USA. The Serbian finished with 41 assists, eight digs and five total blocks, while helping the Blazers hit .333 for the match, including a remarkable .545 hitting display in game three.
Junior outside hitter Ivana Bozic paved the way with 18 kills on .378 hitting to go along with 12 digs and four block assists. The double-double was her 10th of the season.
Junior middle blocker Casey Dent finished with 12 kills on .500 hitting to go along with seven digs and three block assists. Senior middle blocker Shaniquwa Cooper led the Blazers with seven total blocks. UAB finished with 11 total blocks for the match.
Memphis was led by Ashley Liford and her 12 kills and eight digs.
Tiger setter Laura Cote finished with 25 assists in a match Memphis hit just .016.
"Memphis is very good, but we were just on top of our game today and played with a lot of effort," Messersmith said. "They are a very strong offensive team and we blocked really well."
UAB jumped out front of Memphis early in game one, taking a 6-2 lead on a kill by Stefanov and then extending the advantage to 10-4 following three straight attack errors on Memphis' Shelby Burton.
A Bozic kill later made it 22-11 and then a Cooper kill closed out the opening game, 30-20.
The Blazers again took an early lead in game two as another Bozic kill gave UAB a 7-2 edge. UAB went on to take a 20-10 lead after three straight Memphis attack errors and then close out the frame, 30-19, on a kill by Bozic.
Game three may have been the most impressive game the Blazers played all day. After things remained close early on, UAB pulled away to take a 20-11 lead on a kill by Bozic before eventually closing out the game, 30-20, after an ace by Stefanov, followed by an error on Memphis.
UAB will next be in action on Friday when it hosts UCF at 7 p.m. in Bartow Arena.
