Blazers Fall to UTEP in Regular Season Finale

Saturday, November 12

El Paso, Texas

Noon

UAB

-1214,77 CUSA

UTEP

-1611,104 CUSA

UAB

UTEP

Blazers Fall to UTEP in Regular Season Finale

11/12/2022 4:07:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Gamebook: UAB at UTEP

EL PASO – UAB Volleyball closed out their regular season in the Sun City, where they fell to the UTEP Miners one set to three in Memorial Gym. The Blazers fall to a record of 12-14 overall, and 7-7 in C-USA play.

IN THE SETS
In the first set, the Blazers and Miners saw long rallies and consistent effort on both sides of the ball to keep the score in close quarters. UTEP then turned up the intensity, where they went on a series of runs to increase the score margin to a 14-8 lead. The Blazers continued to trail, and the Miners crept toward set point off a kill and ace. The Green and Gold responded with a 3-0 run to hold UTEP at 24; the Miners answered with a kill to take the first, 25-17.

The second set saw more energy from UAB, with the Blazers delivering an early 5-0 run to take a 6-1 lead over UTEP. The Blazers continued their run before the Miners responded with a run of their own to get within three. UAB saw the pendulum swing in their direction, successfully maintaining their lead throughout the duration of the set. The Miners 12 errors and -.071 hitting percentage put the Blazers on track to take set two 25-16.

Set three mirrored the early stages of set one, with the Miners taking an early 9-6 lead. Two errors from UTEP put the Blazers within a point, before UAB eventually tied the score at ten apiece. However, the Miners increased the tempo with a 3-0 run, followed by an advance off errors to keep the lead. UAB fell in limbo with a 5-0 run in favor of the Miners to take the lead to 22-15. The Blazers would not be able to close the gap, where UTEP maintained their momentum to take set three, 25-18.

The fourth set saw UAB taking an early 9-5 lead over UTEP. The Miners responded with a run to put four consecutive points on the board, closing the gap to a one-point margin. The Blazers responded with back-to-back kills from Maia Rackel and Alex Kells to take a 17-15 lead before UTEP looked to tie the score up at 17 with three consecutive kills of their own. The momentum shifted after a successful challenge by UTEP to tie the score at 19; the Miners would gain the lead and eventually the match with a 25-22 win in set four.

IN THE BOX
The Blazers closed out the match outperforming the Miners in aces, with UAB's seven to UTEP's four. The Green and Gold also maintained their total errors below the Miners, with 24 to UTEP's 26. UAB underperformed in hitting percentage with .114 to the Miners' .231.

Stat leaders for the Blazers include Alex Kells, who led in kills with 12, followed by Kiana Mack with nine. Mack also led in blocks with four. Chloe Rodriguez led the front in aces with three, and tied with Mack in Blocks with four.

UP NEXT
The Blazers prepare for C-USA Championships, which start Nov. 18 and end Nov. 20, hosted by WKU in Bowling Green, Ky.

To keep up with the UAB Volleyball Team, follow @UAB_VB on Instagram and Twitter.