Blazers Edged By Mercer, 3-2

Friday, March 14

Macon, Ga.

2:00 PM

UAB

Mercer

Blazers Edged By Mercer, 3-2

3/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball

March 14, 2014

MACON, Ga. – The UAB sand volleyball team fell to Mercer, 3-2, on Friday afternoon. It was the second match between the Blazers and Bears this season.

UAB (0-3) and Mercer (3-2) were tied heading into the fifth match of the day, but the Bears were able to take the win to improve to 2-0 against the Blazers.

Juniors Kiriana Hirini and Bethanie Thomas teamed up for a win at the No. 1 position to give UAB a 1-0 lead at the beginning of the day. The duo took the win 21-18, 21-16 over Mercer’s Jamie Duffy and Emma Peel.

Mercer countered with a win at the No. 2 position. UAB’s pair of junior Sara Rishell and senior Rachel Fairbanks fell to Tori Penrod and Natalie Braun, 21-8, 21-17.

The Blazers went back up by one after Sam Serley and Alison Woods combined for a win at the No. 3 position. They won in two sets, 21-13, 21-15, over Hannah Sorenson and Erin Brett. Serley tallied 21 kills in the win.

The Bears tied the match up at 2-2 after Carolina Carlton and Demi-ShayWatchorn topped Becca Howard and Gabby Deshotel. It was a close match, as the teams were forced to a tie-breaking third set. However Mercer edged UAB, 21-10, 17-21, 15-13.

In the final match of the day, Mercer secured the win after UAB’s pair senior Ally Slaughter and freshman Amber Treace fell 21-14, 21-10 to Zoe Becton and Emily Rochefort at the No. 5 position.

UAB will return to action in the South Carolina Tournament in Columbia, S.C. that runs Saturday, March 22 through Sunday, March 23. The Blazers will face Mercer and South Carolina on Saturday, then take on College of Charleston and Oregon on Sunday.