The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Host Rice, Houston As Conference Play Continues
10/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 14, 2010
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB volleyball team is back at Bartow Arena this weekend to face two more of the top teams in Conference USA.
The Blazers will host second-place Rice on Friday at 7 p.m. for "Take a Kid to the Game Night." Fans will get a free youth ticket with the purchase of one adult ticket.
UAB will then welcome fourth-place Houston to Birmingham for a 1 p.m. first serve on Sunday with free admission for fans who bring a ticket stub from Saturday's UAB-UTEP football game.
The Blazers (4-14, 1-5 C-USA) are looking to get back into the win column after falling twice last weekend at first-place Tulsa.
UAB has been balanced offensively with six players averaging between 1.58 and 2.85 kills per set. Michelle Uzoh has been the team's most efficient hitter with a .307 attack percentage (10th in C-USA).
UAB's opponents this weekend are each riding winning streaks. Rice (11-8, 6-1 C-USA) has won four straight matches, while Houston (11-8, 5-2 C-USA) has won five in a row. The Cougars will open their weekend Friday at Memphis before heading to Birmingham.
Friday's contest with Rice will provide a matchup of two of the top liberos in the country. UAB's Heather Thomas ranks second in C-USA and 12th in the nation with a 5.52 digs-per-set average. Rice's Tracey Lam leads the conference and checks in 10th nationally at 5.62.
The Blazers played both Rice and Houston just once last year. Both matchups were in Birmingham with UAB earning a 3-1 win over Houston and falling to Rice by the same score.
