The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
East Carolina
Blazers Cap Senior Night With Sweep of East Carolina
10/31/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 31, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB volleyball program honored its senior class Friday night and then celebrated with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-19) win over East Carolina at Bartow Arena.
The five Blazer seniors each put their stamp on the win. Ivana Bozic tallied 14 kills and 12 digs. Lilly Domingos added 12 kills and posted six blocks. Nevena Stefanov handed out 41 assists. Casey Dent managed eight kills. And Aleksandra Vujovic racked up 12 digs to finish Senior Night in style and help the Blazers extend their school-record winning streak to 15 matches.
"I feel blessed to have been able to coach these five seniors," UAB head coach Kerry Messersmith said. "Not only are they good players, but they are also great people. They've done everything we've asked them to do at UAB, and they have certainly left their mark on this program."
Friday's win improved the Conference USA-leading Blazers to 21-3 overall (11-1 C-USA). East Carolina dropped to 12-15 overall (2-10 C-USA). UAB secured a sweep of the season series with the Pirates, having also defeated them on the road Sept. 26.
With four matches left before the Conference USA Tournament, this senior class already goes down as one of the most successful in program history. The group has been a part of three consecutive 20-win seasons, two league tournament championship match appearances and a berth in the 2006 NCAA Tournament.
The Blazers have one more home conference match -- Sunday against Marshall -- and three league road matches before heading to Memphis for the Conference USA Tournament, scheduled for Nov. 20-23.
In Friday's contest with East Carolina, UAB overcame slow starts in each of the three sets. In the opening frame, the Blazers trailed 12-9 before rattling off eight of the next nine points and then cruising to a 25-16 win. The second set was close throughout and UAB held a slim 21-20 advantage before tallying four of the next five points to close it out, 25-21. The third and final set followed a similar script, and the Blazers trailed 17-14 before turning it on with 11 of the final 13 points to secure a 25-19 victory.
Domingos came alive down the stretch with five kills and two blocks in the final set as UAB locked up the win. Bozic's 14-kill, 12-dig performance registered as her 13th double-double of the season, while Stefanov's 41-assist effort was her 13th 40-plus assist match of the year.
In the loss, Erica Banning led East Carolina with seven kills. Trish Monroe posted a team-best 16 digs, while Katie Koop led the Pirates with 21 assists.
UAB's current 15-match winning streak includes all 11 of its conference wins. The Blazers have not lost since Sept. 18 in their Conference USA opener against Memphis.
UAB returns to action Sunday at 1 p.m. CT against Marshall. In conjunction with the Canned Food Drive Competition organized by the UAB Leadership and Service Council for the month of November, fans will receive free admission to Sunday's Marshall match by bringing a canned food item.
