The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Mercer
Sand Volleyball Splits Pair Of Matches
3/26/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
March 26, 2012
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. ---- The UAB sand volleyball team rounded out the College of Charleston Sand Volleyball Classic by splitting a pair of matches on Sunday at the Creekside Courts. The Blazers dropped a 3-2 decision to North Florida, but rebounded to knock off Mercer 4-1.
North Florida 3, UAB 2
The Blazers dropped a closely contested match to North Florida on Sunday morning, 3-2, as two of the five match ups needed a deciding set to proclaim a winner.
“In the first match, Kiri (Hirini) and Rachel (Fairbanks) played really well and so did Kirsten (Gallagher) and Heather (Thomas). We are still struggling against team with more experience in the sand,” head coach Hal Messersmith said.
Hirini and Fairbanks played as the No. 2 pair and defeated UNF’s Julie Trembley and Carolyn Jenkins in straight sets, 21-18 and 21-17.
Gallagher and Thomas dug in at the No. 3 slot in the Blazer lineup and went three sets before beating Paige Pridgeon and Britt Claessens, 21-13, 21-19 and 15-9.
In the fifth team pairing, Michele Simmons and Becca Howard went three sets, but UNF’s Marija Pantovic and Kelsey Smith outlasted the UAB pairing in the deciding frame, 15-13.
Match Results
No. 1 – Emily Struck/Dagnisa Median (UNF) def. Sam Serley/Alison Woods (UAB); 21-11, 21-19.
No. 2 – Kiriana Hirini/Rachel Fairbanks (UAB) def. Julie Trembley/Carolyn Jenkins (UNF); 21-18, 21-17.
No. 3 – Heather Thomas/Kirsten Gallagher (UAB) def. Paige Pridgeon/Britt Claessens (UNF); 21-13, 19-21, 15-9.
No. 4 – Nicole Baron/Allison Shirley (UNF) def. Kate Morrell/Ally Slaughter (UAB); 21-19, 23-21.
No. 5 – Marija Pantovic/Kelsey Smith (UNF) def. Michelle Simmons/Becca Howard (UAB); 21-16, 12-21, 15-13.
UAB 4, Mercer 1
The Blazers rebounded after dropping a tight match to UNF by defeating Mercer for the second time in a five-day span, 4-1.
Three of the four match victories came in straight sets, including Gallagher and Thomas winning by impressive scores of 21-8, 21-14 as the third UAB pairing. In that match, Gallagher recorded 19 kills, while teammate Thomas corralled 16 digs.
In a three-set victory, Serley connected for 22 kills and two aces, and Woods rocketed 13 kills and posted 10 digs.
UAB returns to the sand this weekend to compete in the UNF Tournament at Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
Match Results
No. 1 – Cassie Roy/Jaime Duffy (Mercer) def. Kiriana Hirini/Rachel Fairbanks (UAB); 21-6, 16-21, 17-15.
No. 2 – Sam Serley/Alison Woods (UAB) def. Jenn Katona/Monica Sanchez (Mercer); 21-17, 19-21, 15-13.
No. 3 – Kirsten Gallagher/Heather Thomas (UAB) def. Carolina Carlton/Emily Rochefort (Mercer); 21-8, 21-14.
No. 4 – Kate Morell/Ally Slaughter (UAB) def. Zoe Bector/Madison Petsos (Mercer); 21-14, 21-12.
No. 5 – Becca Howard/Michele Simmons (UAB) def. Charlayna Braxton/Lizzie Knapper (Mercer); 21-18, 21-12.
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