The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Volleyball Welcomes WKU and North Texas
10/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
UAB (6-19, 3-7 C-USA) vs. WKU (22-5, 10-1 C-USA)
Friday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. CT
Birmingham, Ala. – Bartow Arena
Coverage: Live Stats | Watch
UAB (6-19, 3-7 C-USA) vs. North Texas (15-9, 6-5 C-USA)
Sunday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. CT
Birmingham, Ala. – Bartow Arena
Coverage: Live Stats | Watch
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB volleyball team will return home after three matches on the road to host Conference USA foes WKU and North Texas. The Blazers will play the Hilltoppers Friday at 7 p.m. and then take on the Mean Green Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
UAB (6-19, 3-7 C-USA) had its win streak snapped last weekend after losses to Southern Miss, 3-1, and Rice, 3-0 last weekend. Despite falling to the Golden Eagles, the Blazers still managed to set a season-best 19 team blocks in the match.
Senior Kiriana Hirini led the squad with 10 total blocks (2 solo, 8 assists) in the match. She is leading UAB with 1.13 blocks per set. Sophomore Emma Schroer continued her strong play at libero, averaging 4.71 digs per set in the two matches.
Series History
UAB and WKU will renew a long history that dates back to 1982 as WKU has joined Conference USA this season. The Blazers and Hilltoppers have met 24 times in the series with UAB owning a 21-3 advantage. The two teams have not faced each other since 1996, when WKU defeated the Blazers, 3-1, on Sept. 14.
The series between UAB and North Texas is much shorter, as the two teams have met just twice. Both teams will be looking to take the advantage in the series with a win on Sunday, as they are tied 1-1. UAB won the meeting last season, defeating North Texas, 3-0, in Bartow on Oct. 18, 2013.
Scouting the Opposition
WKU (22-5, 10-1 C-USA) enters the match second in C-USA and receiving votes in the national poles. The Hilltoppers recently defeated FIU, 3-0, and Florida Atlantic, 3-1 to extend its win streak to three matches. In the league, WKU ranks first in hitting percentage (.280) and blocks (2.55/set). Heather Boyan leads the conference in blocks per set individually, averaging 1.10 on the season. Three players rank in the top 10 in hitting percentage for the Hilltoppers.
North Texas (15-9, 6-5 C-USA) is also carrying a three-match win streak into the weekend. The Mean Green defeated Florida Atlantic, 3-1, and FIU, 3-0 last week. As a team, North Texas is leading C-USA in service aces tallying 1.54 per set. Carnae Dillard leads the Mean Green and the league in kills with 5.29 per set. She also leads the league in points per set, averaging 5.76.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For volleyball news, follow @UAB_VB.
