The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Rice
Rice Tops UAB Volleyball on Senior Day
11/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Box Score (PDF)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB volleyball team fell to Rice in straight sets on Saturday's Senior Day in Bartow Arena.
UAB (9-23, 1-15 C-USA) earned the opening point of the match off a Rice attack error. The Owls (21-9, 11-5 C-USA) battle from behind and took a 3-2 lead by a kill from Noelle Whitlock.
Rice never relinquished its lead despite the Blazers battling to within three, 13-10, at the midway point as the Owls won the first set, 25-17.
The Owls opened set two with back-to-back points before two attack errors allowed the Blazers to tie the set at 2-all. The Owls followed with a kill to retake the lead. UAB was unable to string together a run as Rice won set two, 25-15.
Coming out of the break, UAB opened a 3-2 lead over Rice as junior Gabby Deshotel hammered a kill. The Owls battled back to regain the lead, but the Blazers cut the deficit to one point, 9-8.
Rice continued the offensive pressure and won the set, 25-19, to top UAB in straight sets.
Redshirt freshman Victoria Young led the Blazers with 10 kills while attacking at a massive .429 clip. The middle blocker added two digs and two block assists.
Deshotel added nine kills for the Blazers bringing her season total 504, tying the seventh-most kills in a single season at UAB.
Junior Amber Treace set up the UAB offense with 25 helpers. The setter added two kills, two blocks and four digs.
Senior Sydney Nelson and redshirt junior Emma Schroer played their final matches as Blazers on Saturday.
Nelson recorded one kill in her final match to bring her career total at UAB to 281.
Schroer led the UAB defense with 13 digs. The libero closed the season with 521 digs, the seventh-highest mark in a single season. In her career, Schroer has recorded 833 digs.
"It has been a tough two years, but neither one of them gave up," said head coach Kerry Messersmith. "Both kept forging on and competing at high levels as leaders of our team. They are great kids, and I have had the pleasure of seeing them grow not only as players but also personally."
For more information on the UAB volleyball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_VB). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uabathletics) or on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
