The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Alabama
Alabama Bests UAB In Straight Sets
9/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The UAB volleyball team fell to in-state foe Alabama, 3-0, on Tuesday evening in Tuscaloosa. It was the second SEC opponent that the Blazers have faced in the 2014 season.
UAB is now 3-8 on the season, while Alabama improved to 9-2. The Blazers were out-hit by the Crimson Tide, who landed 42 kills on .381 hitting to UAB's 22 kills on .067 hitting percentage.
Senior Sara Rishell and sophomore Gabby Deshotel led the attack for UAB, each tallying six kills in the match. Sophomore Amber Treace dished out 15 assists and added four kills on six attempts.
Defensively, the Blazers totaled 28 digs and 3.0 blocks on the night. Sophomore Ashlyn Sunseri had a career-high seven digs and senior Bethanie Thomas also added seven to lead the Blazers.
In the first set, the teams remained close and UAB was within one point of Alabama at 10-9 after a kill by senior Leslie Ekpe. However, the Crimson Tide was able to put together several runs and close out a first set win, 25-16, to take a 1-0 lead.
The Blazers took their first lead of the match at 3-2 in the second set. It was a battle as each team traded points and had six ties in the set. Freshman Alexis Howell recorded the first kill of her career to halt an Alabama run, with UAB trailing 19-11. The Crimson Tide went on to take the set, 25-11.
UAB saw some momentum building in the third set when it took a 6-3 lead, but errors handed the lead back to Alabama as the Crimson Tide used a 6-0 run to force the Blazers to call a timeout.
Trailing 22-13, UAB began a comeback with a 4-0 run that included two kills by Deshotel and an ace from Rishell. It wouldn't be enough as the Blazers couldn't overcome the deficit and dropped the final set, 25-19.
UAB will remain on the road as it concluded non-conference tournament play at the Miami (OH) Invitational. The Green and Gold will play Ohio State on Friday, Sept. 19 at 3 p.m. CT, then take on Miami (OH) and IUPUI on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For volleyball news, follow @UAB_VB.
