The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Alabama
Blazer Volleyball Drops Tournament Finale At Alabama, 3-1
9/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 4, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The UAB volleyball team closed out the Bama Bash on Saturday afternoon with a 3-1 (25-15, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22) loss to host Alabama.
UAB (2-4) demonstrated a balanced attack for the second match in a row, but so did Alabama (4-2). While Jordan McDonald paced the Blazers with 13 kills, the Crimson Tide featured four players with double-digit kills, led by Kayla Fitterer with 15.
Several Blazers finished just shy of double-figures, including freshman Ally Slaughter with a career-high nine. Michelle Uzoh and Kate Morell had eight, and Sam Serley managed seven. Alabama, though, held a .268 to .199 advantage in attack percentage, bolstered by 12 kills in 13 attempts from Leigh Moyer.
Libero Heather Thomas turned in another strong effort defensively for UAB with a match-high 24 digs. She led all players in all three matches this weekend and finished the tournament averaging six digs per set.
"That's who Heather is, and that's what we've come to expect from her," UAB head coach Kerry Messersmith said. "She's done a great job of controlling the back court and being a constant for us back there."
McDonald turned in six of her 13 kills in 10 second-set attempts as UAB bounced back from its opening-set loss. Three of those kills came in the final five points of the frame as the Blazers pulled away late to even the match.
In the third set, UAB overcame a six-point deficit to tie the score at 21-21 only to watch Alabama win four of the next five to go on top again by a set. The Crimson Tide then won another close frame in the fourth to finish things off.
Blazer setter Alison Woods led all players with 33 assists as UAB utilized a 5-1 attack for the second match in a row. Alabama's Kayla Schmidt and Stephanie Riley combined for 51 helpers.
"I felt good about how we ended the weekend," Messersmith said. "Regardless of how this match finished, I think we found a lineup we like. We were able to change our mentality when we switched to the 5-1 yesterday against Toledo, and we found out a lot about our kids."
The Blazers finished 1-2 at the event with a win over Toledo and losses to Furman and Alabama. McDonald and Thomas were each named to the all-tournament team.
UAB is now halfway through its non-conference schedule, which continues next weekend with three matches at the Middle Tennessee Invitational. The Blazers open the event Friday at 4:30 p.m. against Albany.
