The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Volleyball Treks To SMU, Tulsa
10/28/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 28, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The UAB volleyball team travels to Dallas, Texas to the play the SMU Mustangs on Friday night at 7 p.m. CT at Moody Coliseum. to start off the back stretch of conference play. The Blazers will close out the weekend with a match at Tulsa with first serve set for 1 p.m. CT.
UAB (18-5, 8-3 C-USA) | SMU (9-14, 5-6) | Tulsa (19-5, 10-1)
UAB Scouting Report
In the Blazers last match, UAB knocked off the Rice Owls at home on Sunday, Oct. 23, marking the 600th career victory for head coach Kerry Messersmith. In her 24th season as a head coach, Messersmith has compiled a record of 600-320 and 126-68 in six years with the Blazers.
UAB is looking to avenge a pair of losses against SMU and Tulsa, which took place earlier in the season inside Bartow Arena. The Green and Gold dropped both contests by 3-0 scores, as the loss to Tulsa snapped the team’s 13 match win streak.
On the season, Sam Serley leads the team in kills (224), hitting percentage (.404) and blocks (113). The Nashville, Tenn. native’s blocks per set average (1.30) ranks second in C-USA, while her hitting clip also sits second in the league and ninth in all of Division I.
Heather Thomas tops the Blazers in digs (437) and is closing in on 2,000 for her career. The UAB libero has corralled 1,937 in her career.
SMU Scouting Report
Following a tough 3-2 loss to the Marshall Thundering Herd last Sunday, the Mustangs look to even their league record, sitting at 5-6 entering Friday night.
SMU has one of the top middle blockers in the conference in Courtney Manning as she leads the league in blocks per set (1.33) but also ranks ninth in attacking percentage, hitting at an even .300.
Defensively, Sidney Stewart runs the show in the back row at the libero position. Stewart is second in C-USA in digs per set at 5.03, with a slight edge over UAB’s Thomas (5.02).
Tulsa Scouting Report
The Golden Hurricane not only sports the league’s top conference record, but also the top team hitting percentage in the conference at .261. The primary weapon for Tulsa is the league’s best offensive weapon in Tyler Henderson. The junior ranks first in C-USA in kills per set (4.89) and fourth nationally.
Tulsa utilizes a two-setter system, with sisters Jordan and Bailey Clampitt running the Golden Hurricane offense. Jordan, a junior, averages 8.45 assists per set, while younger sister Bailey, a true freshman, posts 5.44 per stanza.
Tulsa’s lone league loss in 2011 came at home against SMU and has won six straight league matches since the defeat.
