The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Tulane
Blazers Take Down Tulane, 4-1, On The Sand
4/6/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
April 6, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB sand volleyball team won the first four matches off the court Friday on the way to a 4-1 victory over Tulane.
It was the second win over the Green Wave this season for the Blazers, which improved their record to 4-3. The Green Wave dropped to 1-6 with the loss at the UAB sand volleyball courts.
"We did really well today," UAB head coach Hal Messersmith said. "We played hard and the atmosphere was awesome. I'm excited that we're continuing to get better. Tulane was really improved, yet we rose up to the challenge and played well."
The No. 4 and No. 5 matches were played first with UAB winning both. Kate Morrell and Ally Slaughter were first off the court, teaming up for a 21-11, 21-13 victory over Tulane's Amber Bennett and Shefali Arora at the No. 4 position.
The Blazers' No. 5 duo of Michele Simmons and Becca Howard bounced back from a first-set loss to top Milica Jovic and Olivia Utt, 18-21, 21-9, 15-11, to give UAB its second point.
In the second wave of matches, UAB's No. 3 team of Sam Serley and Alison Woods was the one to clinch the victory. Serley and Woods dominated the second set after a close first one in a 21-19, 21-8 win over Anna Wruck and Lilly Wolfe.
The Blazers earned their final point of the night at the No. 2 position, where Heather Thomas and Kirsten Gallagher claimed a 21-9, 21-18 victory over Tulane's Nikki Osuna and Milena Dragovic.
With the team match already decided, the Green Wave picked up its lone point in a three-setter in the final match on the sand. Cori Martone and Grace Weaver out-lasted UAB's top pair of Kiriana Hirini and Rachel Fairbanks, 13-21, 21-18, 15-11.
Friday marked the second home match of UAB's inaugural sand volleyball season. The Blazers will play their final home contest Sunday, April 15 against Mercer with a 1 p.m. CT start time.
UAB 4, Tulane 1 Match Results
No. 1 -- Cori Martone/Grace Weaver (Tulane) def. Kiriana Hirini/Rachel Fairbanks (UAB); 13-21, 21-18, 15-11
No. 2 -- Heather Thomas/Kirsten Gallagher (UAB) def. Nikki Osuna/Milena Dragovic (Tulane); 21-9, 21-18
No. 3 -- Sam Serley/Alison Woods (UAB) def. Anna Wruck/Lilly Wolfe (Tulane); 21-19, 21-8
No. 4 -- Kate Morrell/Ally Slaughter (UAB) def. Amber Bennett/Shefali Arora (Tulane); 21-11, 21-13
No. 5 -- Michele Simmons/Becca Howard (UAB) def. Milica Jovic/Olivia Utt (Tulane); 18-21, 21-9, 15-11
