The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
UTSA
Blazers Fall To UTSA In Five-Set Opener
8/24/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 24, 2012
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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. ---- The UAB volleyball team opened the 2012 season against UTSA by falling 3-2 (25-22, 19-25, 13-25, 25-20, 12-15) in the Blazers’ first of two matches on Friday at the Blue Raider Bash hosted by Middle Tennessee.
UAB (0-1) will look to rebound tonight after a tough loss, playing the Blue Raiders at 7:30 p.m. The Blazers are slated to compete in a pair of matches – UC Davis at 10 a.m. and Furman at 3 p.m. – on Saturday.
The Blazers were put through some adversity, battling against future Conference USA foe UTSA (1-0) in a back-and-forth match that featured 29 ties. After UAB claimed the first stanza 25-22 behind a team hitting percentage of .429, the Roadrunners snatched the next two sets to hold a 2-1 edge.
In the fourth set, UAB knotted the match at two games apiece by taking the frame 25-20 as Rachel Fairbanks collected 10 of her match-high 30 digs in the stanza.
However, UTSA was able to stave off a Green and Gold comeback by escaping with a 15-12 fifth-set victory to take the match.
Despite the loss, Fairbanks produced a standout performance in her first start at the libero position. The Katy, Texas, native corralled a career-high 30 digs, marking just the fourth time a UAB player has collected 30-or-more digs since 2001.
In fact, Fairbanks more than doubled her previous high of 12 digs set last season vs. UTEP (Nov. 5, 2011).
On the attacking end, sophomore Kiriana Hirini and redshirt-freshman Sam Skinner each hit for high averages for the Blazers. Hirini connected for a .444 (5k-1e-9ta) clip, while Skinner registered a .417 (5k-0e-22ta) percentage in her first collegiate match.
Seniors Kate Morrell (10 kills, 12 digs) and Alison Woods (17 assists, 12 digs) each chipped in with double-doubles in the loss.
UTSA received a strong season debut from McKenzie Adams, who collected a match-high 26 kills to go along with 20 digs in a double-double effort.
