Blazers Fall in Conference Opener

Friday, September 27

Birmingham, Ala.

7 PM

UAB

5-7,0-1AAC

Tulsa

9-4,1-0AAC

Tulsa

UAB

Blazers Fall in Conference Opener

9/27/2024 10:26:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM - UAB dominated in the block department but lost the match 3-2 against Tulsa. The Blazers out blocked Tulsa 14-5 while also hitting .253 throughout the match.

Kelsey Smith recorded her second triple double of the year with 12 kills, 21 assists, and 18 digs. Smith is one of only eight players in the entire country that have recorded multiple triple-doubles this season. Jorda Crook and Tatum Tornatta (Tulsa), led the match in kills with 15 each. Madison Page showed off her skills as a middle blocker hitting .800 with no errors and added seven blocks.

UAB found themselves up early in the first set after an 8-0 Blazer run. UAB led 13-7 after two straight Delaney Bowser aces. The Blazers hit .387 during their dominant first set winning 25-18.

Tulsa made a 180 degree turn and dominated the second set behind four service aces and 18 kills. Tulsa led by nine after a kill by Arianna Mongare to put the Golden Hurricanes up 19-10. Madison Page pulled it to within eight with her monster kill, but that would not be enough for the comeback. Tulsa won set two 25-16.

Tulsa came out on fire again winning six of the first eight points in set three. The third set was the closest of the match with four ties and four lead changes. Deadlocked at 10-10, Tulsa's Tytiana Johnson sent one home to give the Golden Hurricanes a lead that they would never relinquish. Tulsa won set three 25-22.

Seven UAB Blazers finished with at least one kill, including Katia Nikolic who recorded a kill in the fourth set. The Blazers were in a must win scenario down two sets to one. Asli Celikkol put an ace down that gave UAB a 13-4 lead. It was a total team effort in the fourth, winning 25-11.

This felt like it was going to go the distance and we did end up going to a fifth and deciding set. The fifth set was close just like the rest of the match as six ties and two lead changes happened. A 12th kill by Kelsey Smith gave UAB a slight advantage 5-4. The Blazers tied it up once more after a Jorda Crook kill to make the score 9-9. Tulsa then won six out of the next eight points to put the Blazers away and win the match 3-2.

Next Game
UAB will travel to Memphis, Tennessee to face the Tigers on Sunday at 1 p.m.

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