The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Tuesday, September 3
Birmingham, Ala. / Bartow Arena
7 p.m.
UAB
vs
Alabama State
UAB Hosts Alabama State in Home Opener
9/2/2019 1:27:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM – The UAB volleyball team will play in front of its home crowd for the first time this season as Alabama State comes to town on Tuesday. The Blazers and Hornets are set to square off at 7 p.m. in Bartow Arena.
UAB currently leads the all-time series, 17-6, after sweeping Alabama State in the most recent contest a year ago. After winning five of the last six SWAC championships though, Alabama State enters the matchup having won 16 straight regular season matches with its last loss coming to Southern Miss on Oct. 16, 2018.
UAB (0-2) comes into the matchup after competing in the Ball State Tournament on Friday, dropping a pair of tightly contested matches to Ball State and USF. Despite a first set that required overtime and trailing by single digits in all three sets combined, the Blazers fell to the Cardinals, 3-0. UAB got off to a hot start against USF by winning the first set, but later dropped the match to the Bulls, 3-1.
In those opening contests, fresh faces shined in their collegiate debuts. Redshirt Freshman Fernanda Maida paced the Blazer offense through both matches, finishing with 26 kills on the day. Maida led UAB in kills each match as well with 14 against Ball State and 12 to tie for the lead against USF.
True freshman Kiana Mack also stood out through the day as she earned Ball State Tournament All-Tournament Team honors. The Solon, Ohio, native led the defense from the middle blocker position with six blocks on the day, five of which game in her debut against Ball State. Along with her defensive contributions, Mack pitched in on the offensive end by picking up the second most kills on the team through both games with 18, tying for the team lead in kills against South Florida with 12.
Alabama State (3-0) heads to the Magic City riding a three-game winning streak after sweeping the competition as host of the 2019 MEAC/SWAC Challenge. The Hornets first swept South Carolina State, 3-0, before downing Florida A&M and Delaware State, 3-1 apiece.
To date, the Hornet offense has been led by the senior duo of Bayle' Bennett and Krysta Medearis. The pair has combined for 69 kills this season with Bennett's season high of 14 and Medearis' season high of 18. Along with the veteran attack, Alabama State also boasts a solid young presence as freshman setter Madison Beasley has formulated the attack with 66 set assists on the season and a current season high of 28.
The match will be recognized as faculty and staff appreciation night and $2 Tuesday as discounted tickets will be available for faculty and staff, and all concessions will be $2 throughout the duration of the match. For those not in attendance, live coverage will also be provided for the match through a live stream, live stats and live updates from the UAB volleyball Twitter page.
The Blazers' next action will be across town as they compete in the Samford Invitational, hosted by Samford at the Pete Hanna Center, on Sept. 6-7. UAB will first take on Jacksonville State at 5 p.m. on Sept. 6 before concluding the tournament on Sept. 7 with UNA at 10 a.m. and host Samford at 7:30 p.m.
Volleyball season tickets are on sale by purchasing the 2019-20 Gold Card for $65. The Gold Card is an exclusive offer that grants you admission into all UAB volleyball, men's and women's soccer, women's basketball, baseball and softball events for the upcoming academic year. Contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB volleyball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter or Instagram (@UAB_VB).
UAB currently leads the all-time series, 17-6, after sweeping Alabama State in the most recent contest a year ago. After winning five of the last six SWAC championships though, Alabama State enters the matchup having won 16 straight regular season matches with its last loss coming to Southern Miss on Oct. 16, 2018.
UAB (0-2) comes into the matchup after competing in the Ball State Tournament on Friday, dropping a pair of tightly contested matches to Ball State and USF. Despite a first set that required overtime and trailing by single digits in all three sets combined, the Blazers fell to the Cardinals, 3-0. UAB got off to a hot start against USF by winning the first set, but later dropped the match to the Bulls, 3-1.
In those opening contests, fresh faces shined in their collegiate debuts. Redshirt Freshman Fernanda Maida paced the Blazer offense through both matches, finishing with 26 kills on the day. Maida led UAB in kills each match as well with 14 against Ball State and 12 to tie for the lead against USF.
True freshman Kiana Mack also stood out through the day as she earned Ball State Tournament All-Tournament Team honors. The Solon, Ohio, native led the defense from the middle blocker position with six blocks on the day, five of which game in her debut against Ball State. Along with her defensive contributions, Mack pitched in on the offensive end by picking up the second most kills on the team through both games with 18, tying for the team lead in kills against South Florida with 12.
Alabama State (3-0) heads to the Magic City riding a three-game winning streak after sweeping the competition as host of the 2019 MEAC/SWAC Challenge. The Hornets first swept South Carolina State, 3-0, before downing Florida A&M and Delaware State, 3-1 apiece.
To date, the Hornet offense has been led by the senior duo of Bayle' Bennett and Krysta Medearis. The pair has combined for 69 kills this season with Bennett's season high of 14 and Medearis' season high of 18. Along with the veteran attack, Alabama State also boasts a solid young presence as freshman setter Madison Beasley has formulated the attack with 66 set assists on the season and a current season high of 28.
The match will be recognized as faculty and staff appreciation night and $2 Tuesday as discounted tickets will be available for faculty and staff, and all concessions will be $2 throughout the duration of the match. For those not in attendance, live coverage will also be provided for the match through a live stream, live stats and live updates from the UAB volleyball Twitter page.
The Blazers' next action will be across town as they compete in the Samford Invitational, hosted by Samford at the Pete Hanna Center, on Sept. 6-7. UAB will first take on Jacksonville State at 5 p.m. on Sept. 6 before concluding the tournament on Sept. 7 with UNA at 10 a.m. and host Samford at 7:30 p.m.
Volleyball season tickets are on sale by purchasing the 2019-20 Gold Card for $65. The Gold Card is an exclusive offer that grants you admission into all UAB volleyball, men's and women's soccer, women's basketball, baseball and softball events for the upcoming academic year. Contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB volleyball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter or Instagram (@UAB_VB).
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
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