The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Middle Tennessee
Volleyball Suffers, 3-0 Setback to Middle Tennessee
11/9/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Final Stats | Box Score 
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The UAB volleyball team wrapped up its Conference USA road matches on Sunday with its 3-0 loss to Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The Blazers will return home for their final two matches in C-USA play.
UAB (6-23, 3-11 C-USA) had a slow start as it dropped the first set, 25-12 to Middle Tennessee (9-19, 5-9 C-USA) to be down 1-0 early in the match.
Seniors guided the Blazers on Sunday, combining for 30 of UAB's 38 kills. Bethanie Thomas and Sara Rishell led the team with nine kills each, while Kiriana Hirini and Leslie Ekpe added six apiece. Sophomore Gabby Deshotel recorded seven kills.
Thomas was just one kill away from a double-double, as she tied for a team-high 10 digs with sophomore Emma Schroer. Hirini led the Blazers at the net with three blocks and sophomore Amber Treace dished out 31 assists, along with six digs and two blocks.
The Blazers picked up the intensity in the second set. After falling behind, 10-5 in the set, UAB used an 8-3 run to tie the set at 13-13.
The Blue Raiders stretched their lead back to three points, but UAB did not give up as it tied the set up once again at 17-17. Another 3-0 run by Middle Tennessee forced the Blazers to call a timeout, down 20-17.
Thomas landed a kill out of the timeout and Rishell added a kill to cut the lead to 21-19. However, Middle Tennessee would finish the set with four-straight points to win 25-19.
In the third set, UAB found itself down 19-9 and called a timeout to regroup. The timeout proved to be turning point as the Blazers rallied with a 6-0 run to force two timeouts by the Blue Raiders in that span.
UAB kept cutting into Middle Tennessee's lead, then back-to-back kills by Hirini and Thomas made it 22-19. The Blue Raiders reached match point at 24-21, but the Blazers fought hard to stay in the match.
Rishell put down a kill to pull UAB within two. An error by MT brought UAB within one point, but Monet Marshall closed out the match with a kill for Middle Tennessee to win the third set 25-23.
The Blazers will travel to Alabama State for a mid-week match on Tuesday to conclude non-conference play before returning home to host Southern Miss and Marshall in the final matches of the regular season.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For volleyball news, follow @UAB_VB.
