The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Creighton
Blazers Defeat Ole Miss, Creighton Friday
9/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 5, 2008
Final Stats (UAB vs. Ole Miss)
Final Stats (UAB vs. Creighton)
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - The UAB volleyball team proved it can win in more ways than one Friday at Jacksonville State's Holiday Inn Express & Suites/Hampton Inn & Suites Gamecock Invitational.
The Blazers opened the day with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-20) sweep of Ole Miss and then, just hours later, fought back from a set down to earn a 3-2 (25-19, 24-26, 22-25, 25-18, 16-14) victory over Creighton. With the pair of wins, the Blazers improved to 2-2 on the season.
"It was a good day for us in a lot of different ways," UAB head coach Kerry Messersmith said. "We played defense and passed the ball really well. We struggled with our passing last weekend, but we knew we had good passers, and they performed well today."
UAB senior setter Nevena Stefanov directed the Blazers' offensive attack with 94 assists on the day, including a season-high 54 in the win over Creighton. Stefanov also recorded 14 digs in the Creighton match for her second double-double of the season.
Senior outside hitter Ivana Bozic also turned in a double-double versus Creighton. Playing just her fourth match since offseason shoulder surgery, Bozic posted season-highs with 19 kills and 20 digs against the Bluejays. She finished the day with 30 kills in the two matches combined.
"Probably most exciting part of today was the fact that Ivana is back playing like her old self," Messersmith said. "She had a fantastic match against Creighton, and we can tell that she has all of her confidence back."
In the first match of the day, senior opposite hitter Casey Dent led UAB with 13 kills and senior libero Aleksandra Vujovic posted a team-high 14 digs.
After sweeping three competitive sets from Ole Miss, UAB picked up where it left off by taking the first set from Creighton. The Bluejays, though, would respond by winning close sets in both the second and third before UAB rebounded to win the fourth set and set the stage for an exciting finish.
Creighton jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the final set, but UAB fought back with four of the next five points to tie the score at 6-6. From there, the teams traded the lead back and forth until Creighton tied the set for the 10th time at 14-14. UAB then managed two straight points on kills from Dent and Bozic to give the Blazers their second win of the day.
While the UAB starters turned in their best day of the young season, Messersmith was also pleased with the depth her team showed.
"I'm really proud of the way our bench played today," Messersmith said. "Andrea Lalic provided a spark for us. Jordan McDonald and Emily Foreman came in and did some good things for us. Everyone we put in there today came up with some critical plays."
Both of UAB's wins Friday came against potential postseason teams. Ole Miss entered the day at 2-1, and the Rebels are coming off NCAA Tournament appearances in both 2006 and 2007. Creighton came into the weekend at 1-3, but all three of its losses had come to teams that have been ranked in the top 25 early this season.
"Both of those teams are going to win a lot of matches this year," Messersmith said. "We really hit our stride today. It was a lot of fun, and I couldn't have asked for a better performance from our team."
UAB wraps up play Saturday at the Gamecock Invitational with a 2 p.m. CT match against host Jacksonville State.
