The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
First Serve: UAB Volleyball Opens Season At Georgia Tech Tourney
8/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 26, 2010
Watch Live | Gametracker | Match Notes 
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB volleyball team travels to Atlanta, Ga., this weekend to open the 2010 season with three matches at the Georgia Tech Courtyard Marriott Classic.
The Blazers take the court Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET against Alabama A&M and will then play twice Saturday, facing Indiana at 10:30 a.m. ET and Georgia Tech at 7 p.m. ET. All three matches will be played at the Yellow Jackets' O'Keefe Gym.
Fans can watch each of the tournament matches online at ramblinwreck.com, the official site of Georgia Tech athletics. Gametracker live stats will also be available at uabsports.com.
UAB will be opening its season against Alabama A&M for the second year in a row. The Blazers defeated the Bulldogs in last year's opener, 3-1, at Auburn's War Eagle Invitational, giving them six wins in seven tries in the all-time series history.
The Blazers also own a decided advantage in the series with Georgia Tech, having won 16 of the 18 contests between the schools, though the teams have not met in more than a decade. UAB and Indiana will be meeting for the first time ever this weekend.
All three opponents are coming off successful 2009 campaigns with Alabama A&M and Georgia Tech each appearing in the NCAA tournament. The Yellow Jackets finished the season at No. 49 in the RPI, while Indiana checked in at No. 78. This weekend's matches against Georgia Tech and IU will be two of 18 for the Blazers this season against top 80 RPI teams from a year ago.
UAB is coming off a 17-16 year, marking its fifth straight winning season. The Blazers return six players, including 2009 C-USA Newcomer of the Year Michelle Uzoh and All-Freshman Team selection Sam Serley in the middle. Setter Alison Woods and libero Heather Thomas are also back along with Jordan McDonald on the outside and Kirsten Gallagher on the right.
Fifth-year head coach Kerry Messersmith's team also welcomes eight newcomers, many of whom will step into critical roles immediately.
This weekend's action marks the first our four straight weekend tournaments away from home for UAB. The Blazers are on the road until the Sept. 24 C-USA opener against SMU at Bartow Arena.
