The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
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IUPUI Tops UAB Volleyball, 3-1
9/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
OXFORD, Ohio - Three players tallied double figure kills for the UAB volleyball team, but it would not be enough as IUPUI held on to win 3-1 on Saturday afternoon in the Miami (OH) Invitational.
UAB falls to 3-11 on the season, while IUPUI improves to 6-9. The Blazers led in kills with 55 to 49 for the Jaguars, but errors proved to be costly as UAB hit .183 to IUPUI's .209 attack percentage.
Sophomore Gabby Deshotel finished with a match-high 16 kills. Junior Sydney Nelson added 12 kills and senior Sara Rishell had 11. Sophomore Amber Treace ran the offense with 49 helpers on the day.
Defensively, the Blazers won the battle on the block with a total of 10.0. Rishell and senior Leslie Ekpe each contributed five. Sophomore Emma Schroer had a career-best 17 digs and freshman Alexis Howell added 14
The Blazers were trailing 23-16 in the first set and used a 3-0 run to cut the lead to three, but IUPUI held on to take a 25-21 win. In the second set, the Jaguars were out to an early lead and remained in control to take the set 25-18.
Trailing 2-0 in the match, UAB had needed a win in the third set to keep the match alive. The Blazers were down early, but were able to use a 6-1 run to take a 15-10 lead over the Jaguars.
Later in the set, UAB used another run that included kills by Rishell, Deshotel and Treace to keep the momentum in its favor and lead 24-15. A kill by Deshotel capped off the third set victory, 25-16, to force a fourth set.
UAB led to open the fourth set, but IUPUI would not go lightly. The Jaguars took the lead at 6-3 lead after several errors by the Blazers. Three kills in a four-point swing by Deshotel would cut the lead to one at 12-11, but UAB was unable to get any closer in the set. IUPUI closed out the match with a 25-20 in in the fourth.
The Blazers will have several days off as it prepares to begin Conference USA play at Charlotte on Friday, Sept. 26. UAB will then open conference play at home Sunday, Sept. 28 when it hosts Louisiana Tech at 1 p.m. CT.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For volleyball news, follow @UAB_VB.
