The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Tulsa
Tulsa Tops Volleyball In C-USA Semifinals
11/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 17, 2012
TULSA, Okla. ---- The top seed and tournament host Tulsa Golden Hurricane used an early rally to help defeat the UAB volleyball team, 3-0 (21-25,21-25, 20-25) on Saturday afternoon at the Reynolds Center in the Conference USA Tournament Semifinals.
Fourth-seed UAB (20-14) lost for just the third time since the start of October, posting a 13-3 record during that span. Unfortunately, two of those losses came at Tulsa (23-9).
The Blazers struggled to find a rhythm offensively, hitting at a .112 clip and did not have a player reach double figures in kills.
Ally Slaughter topped the team with nine kills, while Sam Serley and Kirsten Gallagher each post eight put-aways apiece.
In the opening frame, UAB built up an 18-11 lead after Serley recorded one of her six blocks, adding on to her all-time UAB records, to give the Blazers a seven-point cushion. Unfortunately, the Golden Hurricane stormed back going on a 14-3 run to close out the set.
The late Tulsa rally in the first set spilled over into the second frame, as the top seed jumped out 20-9. The Blazers would not go quietly, mounting a comeback and getting within three – 24-21 – but three-time C-USA Player of the Year Tyler Henderson put down one of her match-high 17 kills to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Following a kill from Gallagher and handling error by Tulsa, the Blazers again held a substantial lead, this time up 16-11 in the third set. But, again the Golden Hurricane found a way to get back in the set. TU evened up the score at 20-all and then used a 5-0 spurt to close the match with a 25-20 victory.
Senior setter Alison Woods posted her 16th double-double of the season, with 20 assists and 12 digs, while libero Rachel Fairbanks tacked on to her single season record for digs with 20 in the loss.
C-USA Libero of the Year Jessica Adams corralled 28 digs in the victory as Tulsa advanced to the league tournament championship to play three-seed UCF.
