The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Western Carolina
UAB Drops Season Opener to Western Carolina in Five Sets
8/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The UAB volleyball team dropped its first match of the season against Western Carolina 3-2 (19-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-21, 11-15) at the Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center.
After losing the first set, UAB (0-1) seemed to find its rhythm and had an impressive showing in the second set, hitting .278 with 16 kills and six errors.
The Blazers then dropped the third set but turned around to capture the fourth set, hitting .316 with 16 kills and only four errors.
The Catamounts (1-0) held UAB to a .120 attack percentage in the decisive fifth set on their way to a 15-11 clinching win.
Erika Zembyla led UAB with 15 kills while Petra Silic and Haley Jared had 13. Senior Amber Treace had a team-high .364 attack percentage with five kills and one error on 11 attempts.
Defensively, Emily Martinez posted a career-high 20 digs and freshman Kaylee Gilchrist recorded 15 digs in her first collegiate match.
Abigail Veit had 14 kills and Katie O'Conner hit .429 to lead Western Carolina to the victory. The Catamounts recorded 13 total team blocks and posted a .197 team attack percentage.
UAB returns to the court Saturday to compete in the final day of the Catamount Volleyball Classic. The Blazers will take the court against Tennessee Tech at 10 a.m. CT and Charleston Southern at 3:30 p.m. CT.
For more information on UAB Athletics, visit UABsports.com. Fans can find UAB volleyball on Twitter and Instagram at @UAB_VB or on Facebook at facebook.com/UABVolleyball.
