The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
UCF
Blazers Swept By UCF, 3-0
10/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 28, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB volleyball team suffered its third-straight loss as UCF handled the Blazers, 3-0 on Friday evening at Bartow Arena. The Golden Knights are now 6-13, 4-8 in Conference USA while UAB drops to 13-7, 4-6 in league play. The UCF victory was its second in as many tries against the Blazers this season.
The Blazers hit just .150 as a team in the match, but were led by Ivana Bozic's 15 kill-performance. Nevena Stefanov put up a 39-assist, 13-dig double-double and Nicole Bowland led all players with 16 digs. Lorin Lukas was UCF's shining star in the match, racking up 10 kills and 11 digs.
"This match will help us in preparation for the Conference USA Tournament," said UAB co-interim head coach Nikola Petrovic. "We are looking forward to fighting even harder in our next four home matches."
UCF came out of the gate strong, building a 21-12 advantage late in the first game before an Aleksandra Vujovic kill broke a string of five-consecutive Golden Knight points. The Blazers used that momentum and rallied late to cut the UCF lead to just three points at 29-26 after a duo block by Vujovic and Casey Dent. But the Golden Knights finished off the game with a block on the next point, capturing a 30-26 win.
After falling behind 4-1 to start game two, UAB rallied to even the score at six points apiece. The teams traded points back-and-forth before a Shaniquwa Cooper kill gave the Blazers their first lead at 11-10. But the Golden Knights would score 10 of the next 12 points, taking a commanding 20-13 lead and forcing UAB to call its first timeout. With UCF leading by seven at 23-16, the Blazers cut that lead with a 6-0 run before the Golden Knights answered with their own 4-0 streak. But UAB responded again in the game of runs, scoring three in a row to get back within two points at 27-25 and forcing a UCF timeout. The Golden Knights came back and a duo block by Jana Mitchell and Leah Alexander put the Blazers away and put UCF in the driver's seat, up two games to none.
Trailing by two games, UAB opened game three with a 14-8 lead, thanks in part to a five-point run while Vujovic served. After a Vujovic ace and UCF timeout, the Golden Knights reeled off six straight points to tie the score at 14. After five tied scores, UCF jumped out to a 22-20 lead as UAB called its first timeout. The Golden Knights continued their strong play, finishing off the game and the match with a 30-24 victory in game three.
The Blazers return to action Sunday when they host Southern Miss at 1 p.m. at Bartow Arena.
