Blazers' Comeback Bid Falls Short at Rice

Sunday, September 27

Houston, Texas

2 p.m.

UAB

6-8,0-2American

Rice

7-7,1-1American

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
UAB	21	14	25	25	10	2
Rice	25	25	23	23	15	3

Box Score (PDF)

Blazers' Comeback Bid Falls Short at Rice

9/27/2026 5:29:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

HOUSTON, Texas – The UAB volleyball team battled back from a two-set deficit to force a decisive fifth set but ultimately fell to Rice, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse.

Rice used a 4-0 run early in the opening set to take a 6-3 lead before extending its advantage to 17-9 midway through the frame. UAB answered with an 8-2 run to erase the deficit and tie the set at 21-21. Rachel McCollum, Addyson Smock, Kennedy Vaughn and Abby Jones each recorded kills during the run. Following a Rice timeout, the Owls scored the final four points to take the opening set, 25-21.

After a Smock kill gave UAB a 5-4 advantage in the second set, Rice responded with four straight points to take an 8-5 lead. Vaughn's kill and a McCollum service ace brought the Blazers within one at 9-8, but the Owls answered with a 7-0 run to build a 16-8 advantage. Rice went on to take the set, 25-14, and take a 2-0 lead in the match.

UAB responded in the third set, jumping out to an early 3-1 lead before using a 6-0 run to build a 12-6 advantage. Makayla Meister helped spark the run with her play at the net. Rice battled back to pull within one at 14-13, but UAB answered later in the set with three straight points, including a Vaughn kill, a Rice attack error and a McCollum ace, to push its lead to 21-16. The Owls scored four straight late to make it 24-23, but Mia Reese delivered the set-clinching kill to keep the Blazers alive.

Rice took an 8-5 lead early in the fourth set before UAB answered with six consecutive points to take an 11-8 advantage. The Blazers maintained their lead until Rice used a 4-0 run to even the set at 23-23. UAB responded with a Delaney Bowser kill before a Rice attack error gave the Blazers a 25-23 victory and sent the match to a decisive fifth set.

Rice jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the fifth, but UAB quickly battled back. A Meister kill, Rice attack error and a block from Meister and Chinwendu Aguoru brought the Blazers even at 8-8. After Rice regained the lead, an Owl service error brought UAB within one at 11-10. Rice, however, scored the final four points to secure the 15-10 fifth-set victory and the 3-2 match win.

Three Blazers recorded double-doubles in the match. Reese finished with 15 kills and 12 digs, while Vaughn totaled 15 kills and a team-high 18 digs. McCollum posted 29 assists and 14 digs while adding nine kills. Ingrid Dittmar contributed a season-best 17 assists.

UAB returns to action Wednesday, traveling to Memphis, Tenn., to face the Tigers. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m. at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

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