The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Volleyball Takes Three-Match Win Streak to Tulane on Friday
10/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 26, 2006
Match Notes
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB volleyball team hits the road this weekend to play a pair of Conference USA matches beginning at Tulane of Friday at 7 p.m. before concluding its weekend at UTEP at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The Blazers, 17-9 (4-6 C-USA), need just one win this weekend to earn the program's 500th victory all-time.
Once again the Blazers have caught fire this season, winning three straight matches entering this weekend. UAB defeated Mississippi Valley State (3-1), Southern Miss (3-0) and UCF (3-0) last week to jump-start a late push up the C-USA standings.
The Blazers have been aided by several standout players as of late. There has still been the usual suspects such as sophomore outside hitter Ivana Bozic who leads the team with a 4.81 kills per game average and sophomore setter Nevena Stefanov who recently moved up to sixth place all-time at UAB in career assists and is averaging 12.46 assists per game, good enough for third in Conference USA.
Furthermore, some new faces have emerged and given the Blazers several standout performances. Freshmen setter Aley Tallman has averaged 2.29 kills per game since Sept. 29 and nearly had a triple-double last week against Mississippi Valley State with 25 assists, 11 digs and nine kills. Junior outside hitter Fernanda Domingos has also emerged as an elite force for UAB this season as she led the team in kills twice last week and is averaging 3.00 per game for the year.
First up this weekend will be a highly talented Tulane squad that enters the week with a record of 11-8 (7-3 C-USA) after beating SMU, 3-1, last Sunday.
The Green Wave is led this season by Sara Radosovic who is averaging 5.27 kills per game to go with a 2.88 digs per game average.
The Blazers are 5-14 all-time against Tulane after losing, 3-0, to the Green Wave last season.
In its second match of the week, UAB will take on UTEP who enters the week with a record of 5-19 (1-9 C-USA) after losing to Tulsa on Sunday, 3-1.
The Miners are led this season by Casey Mcanelly who is averaging 3.01 kills per game. Katie Smith runs the UTEP offense and is averaging 10.95 assists per game.
UTEP leads the all-time series between the two programs, 1-0, after the Miners knocked off the Blazers in Bartow Arena, 3-1, last season.
Following the team's road matches this weekend, UAB will return home to play its final two home matches of the season against ECU and Marshall. In its match versus ECU on Friday, Nov. 3, UAB will be hosting its "Dig for the Cure Night" in support of the fight against breast cancer. That match will get underway at 7 p.m.
