The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
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Western Michigan University
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Volleyball Concludes Day One of the UIC Invitational
9/1/2023 10:19:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
CHICAGO – UAB Volleyball concluded the first day of the UIC Invitational with losses for both matches Friday evening at Credit Union 1 Arena. The Blazers sit at a record of 1-4 after their first two matches, falling to Western Michigan and UIC.
The Blazers fell to WMU three sets to none in the first morning match of the day. The Green and Gold then put up 15 points to UIC's six in the final set of match two, but did not keep the momentum going, falling 0-3.
MATCH ONE: UAB (0) Western Michigan (3)
The match began with Western Michigan jumping to an early 3-0 lead before extending the lead to 8-4. The Blazers would get as close as seven, going on a three-point scoring run, but the Broncos held onto their lead throughout the duration of set one. The Blazers' Mia Reese tacked up two consecutive kills, but the team was unable to secure the first set of the match, falling 14-25.
The second set mirrored the first with WMU pushing out to a six point advantage. The Blazers would get as close as three points after scoring a kill from Reese and back-to-back aces from Lidya Canturk. The Broncos kept their foot on the gas, putting up two three-point scoring runs to secure set two 25-14.
The deciding set saw the Blazers begin with a 3-2 lead before the score tied at three apiece. WMU went on to jump out to a 11-6 lead after going on a 5-1 scoring run. The Blazers would claw back before Western Michigan went on a burst to creep closer to the match point. Another service ace from Canturk and kill from Reese would be the final points from the Blazers before falling 16-25.
MATCH TWO: UAB (0) UIC (3)
The Blazers and Flames stayed within close quarters, with eleven ties in the first set. UAB maintained a steady pace with UIC, responding with a kill for every kill tallied up by the Flames. UAB and UIC then went back-and-forth before an opening emerged after a series of errors put UIC within four points of landing the first set. After an attack error from Chloe Rodriguez, the Flames took set one.
Set two saw the Blazers and Flames begin with numerous errors on both fronts. The Green and Gold stayed within range of UIC, with kills from Asli Celikkol and Kelsey Smith to put the Blazers within a point of the Flames, the momentum stayed deadlocked. With the score at 17-18 in favor of the Flames, a kill extended the lead to two points. Smith and Reese delivered a series of kills, forcing a UIC timeout before the Flames reached a set point. A Blazer kill and ace kept the set alive before the second set ended in favor of UIC.
The final set began with an early 11-1 lead in favor of UIC. The Blazers gradually crept back with a series of kills from Smith, Rodriguez and Asli Celikkol, but UIC kept their distance. At 7-19, the Blazers went on a 5-0 run to get within ten points, followed by two kills to get in seven. Another run came to put UAB within five, forcing a UIC timeout. With the score at 17-22, the Blazers tallied up a block assist and kill to get within three. Despite the 15-4 run, the Green and Gold were not unable to secure the third set, falling 25-21.
IN THE BOX
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The Blazers put up 66 kills between both matches.
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Kelsey Smith led the team in total kills with 13 in match two, while Chloe Rodriguez lead the team in the same stat with eight.
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Lidya Canturk finished Friday with six service aces.
UP NEXT
The Blazers conclude the UIC Invitational against SIUE at 3 PM. They'll return home following the UIC tournament for their regular season tournament in the Blazer Classic.
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