The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Volleyball Travels To Eastern Kentucky For Nike Invitational
9/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 14, 2005
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The undefeated UAB volleyball team travels to Richmond, Ky. this weekend to compete in the Nike Invitational hosted by Eastern Kentucky University. The Blazers (8-0) will play their first match in McBrayer Arena against UNC Greensboro on Friday at 5 p.m. ET before taking on Eastern Kentucky at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday.
The Blazers rolled to a 4-0 record last weekend at the UAB Tutwiler Invitational in Bartow Arena to capture the tournament title and extend their winning streak to eight matches. UAB topped Georgia Southern and Louisiana-Monroe on Friday before defeating Tennessee State and Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday.
The Blazers were led by freshman Ivana Bozic who was named Conference USA Player of the Week on Monday. The outside hitter from Serbia & Montenegro is the first Blazer volleyball player ever to receive this honor in the ten years UAB has been in the league. Bozic led all players with 59 kills in the tournament and added 40 digs in the four UAB victories. Overall in UAB's five matches last week, Bozic finished with a 4.22 kills per game average, 13 service aces and 44 total digs.
After winning just one match in 2004, Bozic has helped the Blazers start the season with an 8-0 record this year. She has played in every game and leads the team in kills (128), kills per game (4.57), service aces (16) and digs (85). Bozic has also notched a team-best five double-doubles in UAB's eight matches.
UNC Greensboro is just 1-7 on the season and has dropped three straight contests. The Spartans are led offensively by Hilary Overby's 3.16 kills per game. Alysia Rosvold averages a team-best 4.13 digs per contest to pace UNC Greensboro defensively. The Blazers and Spartans have never met on the volleyball court.
Eastern Kentucky (5-3) won three straight matches to capture the Kent State Invitational last weekend. The Colonels are led by senior Liz Guard who has been named MVP of two consecutive tournaments and received the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week award after putting away 52 kills in her team's three matches last weekend.
The Blazers are 6-0 all-time against Eastern Kentucky, who went 27-5 last season and made its third ever NCAA Tournament appearance. The Colonels were undefeated at home in 2004 (14-0) and won their first two matches at McBrayer Arena this season.
