UAB Drops Season Opener in Five Sets to Valparaiso

Friday, August 28

Chattanooga, Tenn.

11 a.m.

UAB

0-1,0-0American

Valparaiso

1-0,0-0MVC

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Valparaiso	19	25	23	25	16	3
UAB	25	22	25	22	14	2

UAB Drops Season Opener in Five Sets to Valparaiso

8/28/2026 3:55:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The UAB volleyball team opened the 2026 season with a five-set loss to Valparaiso on Friday at the Chattanooga Classic.

The Blazers came out firing in the opening set, scoring the first seven points of the match. Valparaiso battled back to even the score at 11, but UAB answered with a kill from Mia Reese and back-to-back kills from Kennedy Vaughn to regain the lead. Vaughn closed out the set with another kill, giving the Blazers a 25-19 victory.

Valparaiso responded in the second set, jumping out to a 6-1 advantage. UAB quickly erased the deficit with a 4-0 run to even the score at eight. The Beacons answered with a 4-0 run of their own midway through the set and held off a late UAB rally to take the set, 25-22.

The Beacons again grabbed an early lead in the third set, going in front 7-2 before extending the advantage to 17-11. UAB responded with eight unanswered points, capped by back-to-back kills from Reese, to take the lead. The Blazers held on down the stretch, claiming the set 25-23 to take a 2-1 match lead.

The fourth set featured a back-and-forth battle, with the teams tied at 10 following a service ace from Sara Sykes. Back-to-back kills from Rachel McCollum helped keep UAB within striking distance, but Valparaiso closed the set on an 8-3 run to force a decisive fifth set.

The Blazers took control early in the fifth, scoring three straight points to build a 12-9 advantage. Valparaiso answered with a late push, scoring the final points of the set to secure a 16-14 victory.
Reese led the Blazers with 25 kills, while McCollum recorded a triple-double in her UAB debut with 17 kills, 28 assists and 16 digs. Annastiina Tarkkanen added a double-double with 31 assists and 13 digs, while Vaughn finished with 15 kills on a .343 hitting percentage.

UAB returns to action Saturday to close out play at the Chattanooga Classic. The Blazers face Tennessee State at 11 a.m. CT before taking on tournament host Chattanooga at 5 p.m. CT.

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