The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
2009 UAB Volleyball Preview: Opposite, Middle Blocker
8/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 17, 2009
As the start of the season nears, uabsports.com takes a position-by-position look at the 2009 Blazer volleyball squad. The team is currently in fall practice, preparing for its season-opening match Aug. 28. Continue to check back over the next week for an in-depth look at the 2009 Blazers, continuing today with a glance at the opposite and middle blocker positions.
Wed., Aug. 12 -- Outside Hitter
Mon., Aug. 17 -- Opposite and Middle Blocker

Thurs., Aug. 20 -- Setter and Defensive Specialist
Right Side/Opposite
Junior Jordan McDonald, also an outside hitter, leads a group of three returning players at the opposite position. Including her freshman season at West Georgia, McDonald owns a career hitting percentage of .260 and a blocks-per-set average of 0.86.
"Jordan is one of our better athletes for sure," Messersmith said. "We haven't really decided where we're going to play her, but we know that she'll be on the floor. Her quickness and her versatility will allow us to swing her from a lot of different positions and a lot of different zones on the net."
The other two returning opposites both sat out the 2008 season.
Aley Tallman was a part of UAB's 2006 NCAA tournament team as a freshman and is one of only two players remaining from that squad. She transferred to Nova Southeastern for the 2007 campaign before returning to UAB in 2008 and sitting out because of NCAA transfer rules. Tallman, who has also seen work at setter, owns a 2.60 kills-per-set average and a .235 attack percentage for her college career.
"We'll either play Aley opposite or outside," Messersmith said. "We'll rely heavily on her backcourt skills. She also proved herself as an offensive player her first year here in 2006. She ended up starting for us toward the end of the year, so she's definitely a proven player on this team."
Kirsten Gallagher will be seeing her first action at the collegiate level after redshirting as a freshman in 2008. Also a middle blocker, the Auburn, Ala., native is a former all-state player at Auburn High School.
"Kirsten can play right or middle, but you'll probably see her more on the right," Messersmith said. "We worked extensively with her in the spring on that right side attack. She really puts up a big, strong block, and I think she's definitely capable of pushing for playing time."
Middle Blocker
At middle blocker, UAB will attempt to make up for the loss of 2009 first-team All-Conference USA selection (and current assistant coach) Casey Dent, who finished her career second all-time at the school with a .333 career attack percentage. The Blazers also lost another middle blocker from the 2008 team in Lilly Domingos, who finished her UAB career last season with 222 blocks in just two short seasons at the school.
Senior Patty Paniagua is the only middle blocker on the 2009 roster who has seen live action in a UAB uniform. The former junior college All-American joined the Blazers in 2008, playing in 17 matches while averaging 1.37 kills and 0.63 blocks per set.
"Patty's quick and she works so hard," Messersmith said. "Sometimes she's played a little out of control because she works so hard, so she's really worked on getting more control of her game. She's one of our stronger blockers because she moves well along the net. She's also very capable offensively."
Michelle Uzoh brings Division I experience to the the Blazers' corps of middle blockers, though she is entering her first year at UAB. A transfer from Georgia Southern, Uzoh has two years of eligibility remaining. She has averaged 1.01 blocks per set for her career and led Georgia Southern in that category in both 2007 and 2008.
"We'll rely heavily on Michelle in the middle," Messersmith said. "She is an excellent athlete who is quick and can really get up. I think she's going to come in and be a very good player right away in this conference."
UAB also welcomes a strong newcomer at middle blocker in Sam Serley, a freshman from Independence High School in Thompson's Station, Tenn. Serley was an all-state player and led a state championship team at Independence. She is also a two-time national champion and a a former national tournament MVP for Impact Volleyball Club in the Nashville area.
"Sam comes with great experience," Messersmith said. "She has played at a high level of both high school and club volleyball. She's got the size that we need and knows the game very, very well. I definitely think she will push for a place in the lineup."
Gallagher, also mentioned earlier as an opposite, will factor in at middle blocker in her redshirt freshman season, and Rachel James also returns at the position. James adds depth to the middle and will fight for more playing time in her redshirt sophomore season.
"Rachel has made strides in her first two years here," Messersmith said. "She has the work ethic we like to see, and she has improved her game by showing up each day ready to compete."
As a team, UAB is preparing for its season-opening event Aug. 28-29 when the Blazers match up with in-state foes Alabama A&M and Auburn at Auburn's War Eagle Invitational. UAB's home opener is set for Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. against Jacksonville State at Bartow Arena.
