The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Alabama State
UAB Sweeps Alabama State in Straight Sets
10/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The UAB volleyball team swept the Alabama State Hornets in straight sets (25-22, 25-19, 26-24) at Lockhart Gymnasium on Wednesday night.
Erika Zembyla led the offensive charge with 15 kills for a .378 attack percentage. Amber Treace posted an impressive .750 hitting percentage and recorded a match-high 35 assists.
Petra Silic tallied ten kills for a .421 mark and Victoria Young struck eight kills for a .211 attack percentage. Emily Martinez covered the back line and had a match-high 18 digs.
A four-point swing in the first set gave UAB an early 6-3 lead but Alabama State wasn’t deterred and scored three consecutive points of its own to tie the set 6-6. The two teams battled the rest of the set and the score was tied as late as 19-19 before the Blazers took control and closed it out with a 25-22 win.
Much like the first set, the second set was close with eight ties and six lead changes. Alabama State pulled ahead mid-way through the set but UAB rallied back to tie the score 13-13. The Blazers took the narrow 19-18 lead after scoring four back-to-back points and cruised easily to a 25-19 victory.
Alabama State came out of the locker room swinging and jumped to an early 10-3 lead in the third set and controlled the majority of the set before the Blazers erased a seven point deficit to the tied the game at 21. The score flip-flopped back and forth and was tied 24-24 before two UAB points clinched the match win.
Bayle’ Bennett led the Alabama State offense with 12 kills and Briana Dorsey posted a team-high .500 hitting percentage. Ni’yesha Brown, Candace Martin and Krystal Medearis all had three blocks each for the Hornets.
The Blazers will travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn., Sunday, Oct. 23 to face conference foe Middle Tennessee for a second time this season. The Blue Raiders won the first match earlier in the season, 3-1, at Bartow Arena.
For more information on UAB Athletics, visit UABsports.com. Fans can find UAB volleyball on Twitter and Instagram at @UAB_VB or on Facebook at facebook.com/UABVolleyball.
