The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
UC Davis
Volleyball Rallies Past UC Davis
8/25/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 25, 2012
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. ---- After dropping the first set, the UAB volleyball team rallied to claim the next three frames to defeat UC Davis, 3-1 (18-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-20) on Saturday morning at the Blue Raider Bash inside Alumni Memorial Gym.
Middle blockers Sam Serley and Kiriana Hirini both produced in the front row for the Blazers as UAB improved to 1-2 on the season. The duo combined for 27 kills on 48 attacks with only five errors and also totaled 17 total blocks (six solo, 11 assists).
Four of the six solo blocks came from Serley which tied a career-high for the Nashville, Tenn., native. In addition, the 12 kills for Hirini marked a career-best effort in her second year in Green and Gold.
In total, UAB posted 17 team blocks with five players recording multiple swats in the match, compared to just seven blocks by UC Davis (1-1).
The setting combo of Alison Woods (25 assists) and Becca Howard (18 assists) combined for 43 helpers as the Blazers hit at a .246 average. The Aggies were held by the UAB defense to just a .141 hitting percentage, as three players – Kate Morrell (14), Woods (12) and Rachel Faribanks (12) – recorded 10-or-more digs.
Morrell had a balanced effort, filling up the stat sheet with eight kills, four block assists and three service aces to go along with her team-high 14 digs.
UC Davis hit .257 as a team in the opening stanza to defeat UAB, 25-18, before the Blazers rebounded. After squeaking by in the second set – 25-22 – UAB flexed its offensive muscle, winning the third frame wire-to-wire behind a .382 attacking clip and holding the Aggies under a .100 average for the second consecutive frame.
The offensive momentum followed the Blazers into the fourth set, as UAB took the set, 25-20, to earn the first match win of the season. In the final frame of the contest, UAB rocketed 16 kills on 30 attacks with only two errors for a .462 hitting percentage.
Devon Damelio led the Aggie effort, sporting 16 kills, 12 digs and six block assists in the loss.
