The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Memphis
Volleyball Shut Out at Memphis Thursday Night
9/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 13, 2007
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The UAB volleyball team went on the road to Memphis and was handed a 3-0 (30-22, 30-18, 30-19) defeat by the Tigers Thursday night. The match was the Conference USA opener for both teams as UAB falls to 5-5 (0-1 C-USA), while Memphis improves to 8-4 (1-0 C-USA).
Following the match, UAB head coach Kerry Messersmith said she had hoped to see more fight from her team that was outdone by a talented Memphis squad.
"Memphis is a great team and we have a lot of respect for them and I have a lot of respect for their coach (Carrie Yerty)," she said. "We're facing adversity right now and we're going to find out how we react to it."
The Blazers were playing their second match without injured junior setter Nevena Stefanov, who owns the third-highest career assists total at UAB.
Junior middle blocker Casey Dent had seven kills on .400 hitting in the match, while junior outside hitter Ivana Bozic was the lone Blazer in double-figures in kills with 10 to go along with nine digs.
"I thought Casey played well," Messersmith said. "The thing with Casey is that you know what you're going to get from her every night. She always plays hard and always plays smart."
Junior outside hitter Aleksandra Vujovic led the team with 15 digs defensively. Senior libero Brianna Galvin finished with seven digs and no errors.
Junior setter Lilly Domingos, playing in just her second match as the team's setter, finished with 25 assists and eight digs.
"Right now we're looking for Lilly to play better every match," Messersmith said. "Tonight was just the second time she has ever set in a match and I thought she was better tonight than she was last Saturday (vs. George Mason)."
Memphis was led by Ashley Lilford and her double-double 12 kills and 13 digs. Lilford also contributed with four total blocks. Shelby Burton also provided substantial offensive production as she finished with 10 kills and five blocks.
Laura Cote totaled 36 assists in helping the Tigers hit .266 for the match.
Friday's result marks the first time in five meetings that a match between UAB and Memphis did not come down to a decisive fifth game. The Blazers had won the previous matchup, a 3-2 triumph in the Conference USA Championship match last season.
The Blazers will next be in action on Friday when they take on Arkansas State at 4:30 p.m. in their first match of the U of Memphis Invitational.
