The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Louisiana-Monroe
UAB Sand Volleyball Bests ULM, 3-2
4/5/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
April 5, 2013
PDF Results and Stats: UAB 3, ULM 2
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB’s sand volleyball team jumped out to an early lead and held on for a 3-2 win over ULM on Friday at the UAB Sand Volleyball Courts.
UAB continues play on Saturday and Sunday with two matches against North Florida. The Blazers battle the 10-1 Ospreys at 4 p.m. CT Saturday and again at Noon CT on Sunday. Head coach Hal Messersmith’s team will be handing out free barbecue before Saturday's contest on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Blazers move to 9-5 overall with Friday’s victory and have now won six of their last eight duals on the year.
“Today was a hard fought win against a very good team in ULM,” Messersmith said. “The two matches we lost were down to the wire, so I think that says a lot about how our team is playing right now.”
UAB began the day with two three-set thrillers to build the early momentum. Becca Howard and Kate Morrell started the contest with a hard-fought 21-8, 19-21, 15-13 victory over the Warhawks’ duo of Zuzana Markova and Alannah Cullum in the fifth flight.
The Blazers then built a 2-0 advantage when Rachel Fairbanks and Sara Rishell hung on for a 21-8, 8-21, 16-14 triumph over Kylie Parks and Blanca Ocana.
Playing in the third flight, UAB’s Alison Woods and Sam Serley dropped a tight 23-21, 9-21, 16-14 match to put the score at 2-1.
UAB’s No. 2 pair then came through for the Blazers as Ally Slaughter and Kirsten Gallagher used a 21-18, 21-19 win to clinch the contest and put their team up 3-1.
After winning the first set, UAB’s remaining tandem of Bethanie Thomas and Kiriana Hirini fell to ULM’s Tetiana Sukach and Iren Marinova at the top position, 16-21, 21-12, 19-17 to final the final total at 3-2.
“I thought we really had a chance on both of the courts we lost today,” Messersmith added. “We are happy to get the win and look forward to playing a very tough North Florida squad this weekend.”
Fans are encouraged to arrive early for Saturday’s dual with limited barbecue available.
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