The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
UTEP
Blazers Blast UTEP, 3-0
10/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 3, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB volleyball team jumped all over UTEP on Friday night and never looked back in a 3-0 (25-6, 25-14, 25-20) rout of the Miners at Bartow Arena.
"I thought we came out strong early and set the tempo for the match," UAB head coach Kerry Messersmith said. "Our players executed very well tonight, and we are pleased with the things we were able to do."
Ivana Bozic led the Blazers with her eighth double-double of the season, posting a match-best 10 kills to go along with 12 digs. Heather Thomas also recorded 12 digs for UAB, while Aleksandra Vujovic joined Bozic and Thomas in double-figures with 11 digs.
As a team, the Blazers logged a .312 hitting percentage, including a remarkable .481 percentage in their dominant first-set win. Lilly Domingos led UAB in hitting percentage at .857 with six kills in seven attempts, while Andrea Lalic hit .600 with seven kills in 10 attempts.
With the win, UAB improves to 13-3 overall (3-1 Conference USA). The Blazers now look ahead to a much anticipated C-USA showdown with Tulane on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT. The contest, featuring the teams picked to finish first and second in the league's preseason poll, will be televised by CBS College Sports.
"We're looking forward to the match Sunday with Tulane," Messersmith said. "Every time you step on the floor in our league, it's a challenge. But this should be an especially good match."
In Friday's win, UAB came out of the gate quickly. After building a 9-4 lead, the Blazers closed the set by winning 16 of the final 18 points. Near the end of the set, UAB scored nine consecutive points on Nevena Stefanov's serve to turn their 15-5 lead into a 24-5 advantage. After UTEP managed to side out for a point, the Miners committed an attack error to give UAB the set.
The second set was tight for a while. UAB trailed 9-8 before rattling off five straight points to grab a 13-9 lead. From there, the Blazers never looked back as they cruised to a 25-14 second set win.
The third set was the tightest of the night with the teams going back and forth until the score was tied 20-20. At that point, reigning C-USA Offensive Player of the Week Casey Dent took the ball for the Blazers and served five consecutive points to close out the match. UAB finished things off with three straight kills from Domingos, Stefanov and Bozic.
Stefanov led all players in the match with 38 assists in addition to three kills and five digs.
With the victory, UAB ran its winning streak to seven matches. Since dropping their first two contests of the season, the Blazers have now won 13 of their past 14 matches.
