The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Indiana
Hoosier Block Too Strong For Blazers Saturday Morning
8/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 28, 2010
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ATLANTA -- The UAB volleyball team struggled to match the blocking ability of Indiana's tall front row Saturday morning in a 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-22) loss in its first match on day two of the Georgia Tech Courtyard Marriott Classic.
The Hoosiers (2-0) racked up 15 blocks in the three-set contest at Georgia Tech's O'Keefe Gym, compared to three blocks for the Blazers (1-1).
Michele Simmons had the most success against the block for UAB, putting down eight kills. Jordan McDonald and Sam Serley finished with five kills each.
UAB will be back on the court tonight to conclude its opening weekend with a 7 p.m. ET contest against host Georgia Tech. Fans can follow the action with streaming video online at ramblinwreck.com, the official site of Georgia Tech athletics, and through Gametracker live stats at uabsports.com.
UAB held its own defensively Saturday morning, forcing Indiana into an attack percentage of .050 or worse in two of the three sets. The Blazers out-dug the Hoosiers 47-41, led by 14 digs from libero Heather Thomas and 10 each from Rachel Fairbanks and Becca Howard.
Howard, a freshman setter, also tallied 14 assists for the first double-double of her college career. Alison Woods added 10 assists for the Blazers.
After Indiana won a defensive struggle in the opening set, the Hoosiers then turned up the heat offensively in the second frame and rolled to a 25-13 win and a two-set lead. IU hit for a .379 percentage in the second set.
Ashley Benson led Indiana with a match-high 10 kills, while Taylor Wittmer led all players with nine total blocks. Setter Mary Chaudoin ran the Hoosier attack with 23 assists, and libero Caitlin Cox managed a match-best 15 digs.
UAB looked to have finally some gained momentum in the third set. The Blazers opened up a five-point lead midway through the frame, forcing an Indiana timeout. But IU regrouped to tie things up and then pulled away down the stretch.
