The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Volleyball Welcomes Southern Miss, Tulane
11/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 10, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The UAB volleyball team welcomes Conference USA opponents Southern Miss and Tulane to Bartow Arena this weekend. The Blazers and Golden Eagles will take the court on Friday at 7 p.m. CT, followed by a match with Tulane on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
On Friday the Blazers will promote cancer awareness with all proceeds and donations being sent to the Coach Gene Bartow Fund for Cancer Research. Sunday's contest is Senior Day for both Heather Thomas and Thais Soares.
UAB (20-7, 10-5 C-USA) | Southern Miss (13-14, 7-8) | Tulane (9-17, 4-11)
THE UAB RUNDOWN
The Blazers are coming off a two-match sweep a weekend ago against the UTEP Miners, winning by scores of 3-0 and 3-1. The victories upped the Blazers to 10-5 in C-USA play and a logjam for second place in the league standings. UAB, Houston and Rice are all 10-5 in conference action with only Tulsa (14-1) ahead of the trio.
UAB Leaders
Kills: Sam Serley, 248
Hitting Percentage: Sam Serley, .363
Assists: Alison Woods, 564 | Becca Howard, 469
Service Aces: Heather Thomas, 24
Digs: Heather Thomas, 540
Blocks: Sam Serley, 134
THOMAS CROWNED C-USA'S TOP DEFENDER
Heather Thomas earned her second C-USA Defensive Player of the Week award of 2011 and second of her career by leading UAB to a pair of victories against the UTEP. She averaged an even 8.00 digs per set for the weekend, totaling 56 digs in seven sets played. In the three-game sweep on Saturday, Thomas corralled 28 digs and became just the fifth player in Conference USA history to surpass the 2,000-dig milestone. She now has 2,040 for her career.
In the second contest with the Miners in as many days, Thomas recorded 28 digs yet again, tying a season-high and marking the fourth time this season she has posted that dig total.
HIRINI HONORED BY AVSR
Redshirt-freshman Kiriana Hirini was named American Volleyball Scouting Report Global Player of the Week on Monday. Hirini is only the second player in Conference USA to earn the honor this season.
Last weekend, Hirini averaged 2.50 blocks per set, totaling 15.0 swats in six total sets played. Of her 15.0 total blocks, a career-high 10.0 came in a four-set victory against UTEP.
RICKS SWATS MINERS
Freshman Ashley Ricks averaged 2.43 blocks per set to help stonewall the Miners' attack, which managed to hit only .133 combined over the course of seven sets last weekend. Following a five-block assist outing in Saturday's victory, Ricks recorded 12 block assists in Sunday's four-set win.
The 12 blocks were the most swats by UAB player since 2006, when Shaniqua Cooper tallied 15 at the Conference USA Tournament and tied for the most by a league player this season.
SOUTHERN MISS REPORT
The Golden Eagles enter the weekend after splitting a pair of matches with SMU. Both contests needed five sets to determine a winner, with Southern Miss claiming the first match.
The defense of Southern Miss has done a sound job holding the opposition on the attacking end, ranking second in opponent's hitting percentage (.169). The Golden Eagles only trail the Blazers (.159) in that category.
UAB defeated Southern Miss in five sets on Oct. 2 in Hattiesburg, Miss.
LEADERS
Kills: Ashley Mell, 297
Hitting Percentage: Lauren Sears, .322
Assists: Kelsea Seymour, 1,080
Service Aces: Lauren Sears, 25
Digs: Lisa Knecht, 501
Blocks: Lauren Sears, 94
TULANE REPORT
The Green Wave has struggled as of late in league play, dropping its last three matches and five of six.
Cori Martone is the primary offensive weapon for Tulane as she averages 3.33 kills per set for the season. In total she has 303 kills, while adding 20 service aces and 67 blocks for a team-best 361.5 points for the year.
UAB defeated the Green Wave in New Orleans this season on Sept. 30 in five sets.
LEADERS
Kills: Cori Martone, 303 kills
Hitting Percentage: Cori Martone, .232
Assists: Mel Mandelbaum, 615 | Lilly Wolfe, 349
Service Aces: Cori Martone, 20
Digs: Nikki Osuna, 434
Blocks: Anna Wruck, 107
