The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Volleyball Preview: Outside Hitters
8/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 22, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB volleyball team opens its 2008 season Friday, Aug. 29 at the Florida Gators Invitational. With preseason practice winding down, uabsports.com provides an in-depth look at the volleyball program as it prepares for its opening weekend.
"I'm really pleased with the way we've practiced," UAB third-year head coach Kerry Messersmith said. "The biggest difference between this year and my previous two years is that our practices are a lot more competitive. We're so much deeper at each position, and that just leads to more competition."
Today is the second day of a five-day preview on uabsports.com, featuring a position-by-positon breakdown of the 2008 volleyball squad. Today, we take a look at the outside hitter position.
Thursday, Aug. 21 -- Setters
Friday, Aug. 22 -- Outside Hitters
Monday, Aug. 25 -- Middle Blockers
Tuesday, Aug. 26 -- Opposite Hitters
Wednesday, Aug. 27 -- Liberos
OUTSIDE HITTERS
UAB's most highly decorated player returns for her senior season to lead the Blazers' corps of outside hitters. Ivana Bozic, who missed the final 10 matches of 2007 with a shoulder injury, looks to pick up where she left of before being sidelined.
Bozic, one of three Serbia natives on the Blazers' roster, was a 2006 All-Conference USA First Teamer and an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selection as a sophomore. A 2007 preseason All-C-USA player in 2007, she averaged 4.35 kills per game and posted 14 double-doubles prior to her injury.
Following surgery and an offseason of rehab for Bozic, UAB head coach Kerry Messersmith said the senior has come back strong.
"Ivana was a bit of a question mark coming into practice," Messersmith said, "but she has really found her form quickly. She's worked really hard, and she's taking full, free swings. After a few days of practice, she really had her confidence completely back."
Also at the outside hitter position, UAB welcomes a newcomer in junior Savannah Pegg. After playing for two years at Middle Tennessee, the Huntsville, Ala., product brings her athleticism to the UAB program. With the Blue Raiders, Pegg played in the 2006 NCAA Tournament and posted a 1.53 kills per game average in 2007.
"Savannah is a dynamic athlete and a great jumper who will do whatever it takes to get on the floor," Messersmith said. "She played a very high level of volleyball at Middle Tennessee, and she makes us so much deeper at that position."
Junior Andrea Lalic will also add depth for the Blazers at outside hitter, though she will see action in the middle and on the right side, as well. Lalic, a native of Montenegro, averaged 2.16 kills per game and tallied 26 blocks as a sophomore in 2007. She posted a career-high 19 kills and also added three blocks versus Tulsa in last season's C-USA Tournament championship match.
"Andrea got some great experience by playing so well for us in the conference tournament last year," Messersmith said. "We feel comfortable putting her in a number of different positions on the floor."
UAB returns 10 letterwinners and welcomes six newcomers to the program in 2008. The Blazers also bring back five starters from a year ago. Check back tomorrow for a look at the Blazers' middle blockers.
