The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Volleyball Travels To Marshall and East Carolina
11/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 8, 2005
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB volleyball team hits the road this weekend for its final two matches of the regular season. The Blazers (14-10, 5-8 C-USA) head to Marshall (21-5, 13-1 C-USA) on Friday at 7 p.m. ET where they will take on the first-place Thundering Herd. UAB then squares off with East Carolina (16-10, 7-6 C-USA) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET
The Blazers have lost six of their last seven and look to halt a three-match losing skid. Tulane came to Bartow Arena and swept UAB last Friday evening before UTEP handled the Blazers in four games on Sunday. Freshman Ivana Bozic leads the way for the team offensively, averaging 4.56 kills-per-game which ranks sixth in the conference. Freshman setter Nevena Stefanov averages 12.57 assists-per-contest while sophomore Nicole Bowland comes up with 3.34 digs-per-game.
Marshall has been outstanding in its first season in Conference USA, already claiming the regular-season title. The Thundering Herd has won seven matches in a row, dating back to Oct. 21 and has not lost a home contest this season. UAB dropped a 3-1 decision to Marshall on Oct. 14 in Birmingham and is one of just three C-USA teams to even tally a single-game victory against the Herd this year.
Marshall is led by preseason player of the year pick, Kelly-Anne Billingy. The sophomore leads the conference with a 5.73 kills-per-game average and ranks fourth in the nation in that category. Billingy is also hitting at a .360 clip, good for second in the league. Katie Stein has reaped the benefits of setting for Billingy, leading C-USA with 13.99 assists-per-game. Stein has twice been named conference setter of the week while Billingy has received player of the week honors three times this season.
East Carolina has won three-straight conference matches and six of its last nine. The Blazers topped the Pirates in a closely contested, 3-2 match on Oct. 15 in Birmingham. Pam Ferris' 4.01 kills-per-game ranks seventh in the conference while setter Heidi Krug averages 13.20 assists-per-game, good for second in the league behind Stein. The Pirates host Memphis on Friday evening at 7 p.m. before welcoming the Blazers to Greenville on Sunday afternoon.
All 12 Conference USA schools will partipate in the 2005 C-USA Volleyball Tournament hosted by Rice University from Nov. 17-20.
