The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Arkansas State
UAB Sweeps Arkansas State, 3-0
9/20/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 20, 2013
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The UBA volleyball team (11-3) is off to a great start in the Bruin Classic with a 3-0 sweep over Arkansas State (4-8) on Friday night. The Blazers used a balanced attack with five different players registering kills in the win.
UAB opened up with a strong first set win 25-14. The set was tied at 11-11 but a 4-0 run by the Blazers gave them a 15-11 lead and then after pushing the lead to 20-14 Arkansas State was forced to call a timeout. UAB then rattled off five-straight points, including two kills from junior Bethanie Thomas to close out the set.
The second set played out just like the first, as the teams traded points until it was tied 15-15. Senior Rachel Fairbanks went back to serve and notched two service aces in a row, then a Red Wolf error and a kill by sophomore Sam Skinner extended the UAB lead to 19-15. The Blazers continued the attack and won the set 25-20.
Arkansas State jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead in the third set, but UAB bounced back quickly and tied it up at 7-7. The Blazers put together several runs in the third set to pull away, capped off by a 5-0 run to give them a 24-16 lead and eventually win the set 25-18.
The Green and Gold had two players with double-digit kills, as Skinner led the team with 13 and junior Sara Rishell added 11. Junior Kiriana Hirini had a solid all-around night with nine kills and six blocks.
The eight service aces on the night is the second most UAB has had as a team in the 2013 season. Senior Ally Slaughter contributed three of the eight, along with Fairbanks (2), Skinner (1), Thomas (1) and Hirini (1).
Defensively, Fairbanks collected 17 digs for UAB and Thomas added seven digs and four blocks. The Blazers held Arkansas State to just .110 attack percentage on the night.
UAB will continue play in the Bruin Classic when it takes on Mississippi State Saturday, Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. CT.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For volleyball news, follow @UAB_VB.
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