The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
UCF
Blazers Post Impressive Numbers But Fall 3-2 At UCF
10/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 22, 2010
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The UAB volleyball team put four players in double-figure kills and turned in another outstanding blocking performance Friday night, but the Blazers came up on the short end of a 3-2 (16-25, 25-20, 28-26, 23-25, 15-12) decision at UCF.
For the second time in three matches, UAB racked up 17 total team blocks, which ranks as the second-highest total in Conference USA this season. Sam Serley contributed on eight of those blocks, while Michele Simmons was a part of seven.
The Blazers (5-16, 2-7 C-USA) also turned in their best offensive night of the season, statistically, hitting for a .287 percentage as a team. Serley hit .481 on her own and led UAB with 16 kills, followed by Jordan McDonald with 15, Michelle Uzoh with 14 and Ally Slaughter with 11. UCF hit more than 60 percentage points lower at .223.
Unfortunately for UAB, the biggest portion of its advantage came in a lopsided, 25-16 first set. The Blazers posted six of their blocks in the opening frame and hit for a .433 percentage, while UCF was hitting at a .000 clip.
The Knights (11-10, 4-5 C-USA) picked up their offensive game the rest of the way, out-killing UAB 61-49 over the final four sets after being out-killed 15-9 in the first. Kristin Fisher was the offensive star for the Knights with a match-high 26 kills, while UCF setter Rachel Vukson handed out a match-best 57 assists.
After UCF evened the match at one set apiece, UAB had a chance to go back ahead in the third. The Blazers led 23-20 and held a set point at 24-23, but the Knights pulled out a 28-26 win to take a one-set lead. The Blazers then won a close fourth set to force the decisive fifth frame.
UCF ran out to a quick 4-0 lead in the fifth, but UAB stormed back to tie the score at 5-5. It remained tied as late as 12-12 before UCF rattled off three straight points on two kills from Fisher and one from Evija Vilde to seal the victory.
McDonald and Alison Woods each recorded their sixth double-double of the season for UAB. McDonald added 20 digs to her 15 kills, while Woods dished out 54 assists and totaled 11 digs. Slaughter posted nine digs to go along with her 11 kills as she came up just shy of a double-double.
Libero Heather Thomas was the third Blazer in double-digit digs, leading the team with 21. UCF's Meredith Murphy led all players with 24 digs.
Friday marked UCF's first vistory over UAB since 2005 as the Knights snapped a nine-match losing streak in the series.
UAB continues its road weekend by making the long flight to El Paso, Texas. The Blazers will square off with UTEP on Sunday at 1 p.m. MT (2 p.m. CT).
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
