UAB Drops American Opener to Wichita State

Friday, September 26

Birmingham, Ala.

7:00 p.m.

UAB

7-6,0-1American

Wichita State

9-4,1-0American

Wichita St.

UAB

UAB Drops American Opener to Wichita State

9/26/2025 10:29:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Blazer Volleyball starts the 2025 American campaign 0-1 after a 3-1 home loss to Wichita State. UAB pressured the Shockers through the first two sets, winning on of the frames, before Wichita State showed their conference champion form in the third and fourth sets.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The first two sets saw little defense as the Blazers and Shockers combined for 35 and 32 kills in the first and second sets, respectively. After taking a 7-6 lead in the first set, the Shockers used a six-point run to take a 13-6 lead. The Blazers were able to chip away at the large Wichita State lead before fully cutting it with a five-point run. UAB took a 23-21 lead on an Annastiina Tarkkanen ace, but a 5-1 Shockers run ended the set in favor of Wichita State, 26-24.

A four-point UAB run gave the Blazers the first considerable lead of the second set at 14-11. The Shockers were able to close the lead with a 4-1 run before taking a two-point lead with another 4-1. A pair of kills by Abby Jones, a Tarkkanen ace, and an Addyson Smock kill turned the set around to give the Blazers a set point. Jones finished off the set a point later to win 25-23. Mia Reese led the Blazers through two sets with 11 kills on 22 attempts.

Wichita State took the long break to turn up the defense, forcing UAB to hit .054 and .074 in the third and fourth sets, while siding out at 82% and 93% in the latter sets. The Shockers started the third set with an 8-3 lead. A 5-1 lead later in the set put Wichita State up 14-7. The Shockers just kept building on their lead, eventually winning the set 25-16.

Once again, Wichita State took a large lead to start the set, forcing a UAB timeout at 11-5. An 8-3 run put the Shockers up 22-12, allowing Wichita State to cruise to victory, ending on back-to-back UAB errors. The Shockers hit .346 in the set, compared to UAB's .074. The Shockers shut down Reese, who only managed one kill in the last two sets on 10 attacks.

STANDOUTS
Jorda Crook led the Blazers in her return with 16 kills. Reese and Jones each had 12 kills, tied for second-most.

Despite playing second rotation, Tarkkanen led the Blazers with 20 assists. Riley Lovell fell just behind 18.

Meg Jarrett and Tarkkanen led UAB with nine digs. Five different players tallied five or more digs.

NOTABLES

Jarret set a career high with four assists
Reese ties Haley Jared (2014-17) for the eighth most UAB kills in the 25-point rally scoring era with 677.
Reese passes Andrea Lalic (2008-09) for the ninth most UAB attacks in the 25-point rally scoring era with 1,917.

UP NEXT
UAB makes a quick trip to Denton, Texas, to take on the Mean Green. The Blazers and North Texas are set for a 1 p.m. first serve on Sunday, September 28. North Texas lost its conference opener at home in straight sets to Charlotte. The 49ers' win snapped a seven-match winning streak by North Texas.