The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Volleyball to Participate in Jax State Invitational
9/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB volleyball team travels to Jacksonville, Ala., on Friday to compete in the Jax State Invitational against a tournament field that includes Mississippi Valley State, Jackson State, New Orleans and host Jacksonville State.
Fans can follow throughout the weekend at www.UABsports.com, on Twitter @UAB_VB and on Instagram @UAB_VB.
Match Information: Jax State Invitational
Site: Pete Matthews Coliseum, Jacksonville, Ala.
Date: Friday, Sept. 9 - Saturday, Sept. 10
Schedule
Friday, Sept. 9
9 a.m. UAB vs. Mississippi Valley State
4:30 p.m. UAB vs. Jackson State
Saturday, Sept. 10
9 a.m. UAB vs. New Orleans
4:30 p.m. UAB vs. Jacksonville State
The Series
UAB and Mississippi Valley State are meeting for just the third time in school history and the Blazers lead the all-time series 2-0.
The Blazers and Jacksonville State have met 22 times in school history with UAB holding a 13-9 series advantage.
New Orleans and UAB are meeting for the 10th time with the Blazers leading 5-4.
This will be just the second time in school history that UAB has faced Jackson State and the Blazers lead 1-0.
On the UAB Blazers
The Blazers hosted the UAB/Samford Challenge last weekend in Bartow Arena and finished the tournament 2-2, picking up wins against SE Missouri State and Tennessee Tech, both in a three-set sweep.
"We came out with a lot of energy on the last day of the tournament last weekend, especially the last match, and I think that's one of the many impressive things about how we played against Tennessee Tech," head coach Kerry Messersmith said. "We played with such energy and enthusiasm and we told the girls before the match that we are better than what we have played like earlier in the season.
"For us, we are going to have to find some different ways to win matches because we are extremely beat up right now. We have challenged them to focus on the things that they can control, like effort, enthusiasm and communication, because we have a lot of things we can't control. They did come out and do a fantastic job Saturday night and hopefully we can continue to work on those things this weekend as well."
Junior college transfer Erika Zembyla continues to lead the way offensively for the Blazers with 93 kills (3.58 kills/set) which ranks her sixth in Conference USA. Haley Jared is close behind with 85 kills (3.27 kills/set) and owns a .231 attack percentage. Senior Amber Treace leads the squad in hitting percentage (.298) and assists (285) which ranks her third in the conference.
Defensively, Petra Silic leads the team with 29 blocks (1.12 block/set) and ranks fifth in the conference. The Zagreb, Croatia native is also third on the team with 59 kills. Victoria Young has played a vital role for the Blazers and ranks fourth in the conference with 28 blocks (1.17 block/set) and 39 kills. Emily Martinez leads the conference at the libero position with 128 digs in seven matches.
Scouting Mississippi Valley State
Mississippi Valley State brings a 1-4 record into the weekend. The Delta Devils are led by Kalin Barnes who has 36 kills (2.57 kills/set) and posts a .119 attack percentage. Sydney Robinson is the only Delta Devil that has started every set for Mississippi Valley State recording 65 digs on the season (3.82) in 17 sets played.
Scouting Jackson State
The Tigers come into the weekend looking for their first win of the season after starting 0-7. Madison Wolf leads Jackson State with 40 kills (1.82 kills/set) and Reina Garcia leads the team with a .333 attack percentage. Defensively, Kianna Shelton is best on the squad with 11 total blocks, five of them solo, and Tyler Moorer has tallied a team-high 68 digs.
Scouting New Orleans
The Privateers enter the tournament looking to improve their 1-5 record. Jordan Yauch has a team-high 59 kills (2.68 kills/set) and Blessing Dunn is just behind her with 46 (2.19 kills/set). Keke Richards leads the team in attack percentage with a .400 mark in 18 sets played. Kaitlyn Grice has recorded 12 total blocks on the season and Samantha Uline has a team-best 70 digs.
Scouting Jacksonville State
Host Jacksonville State is 3-6 overall. Allyson Zuhlke struck 115 kills in those nine matches, while Kaylee Frear added 87. Rachel Perucki runs the offense with 127 assists (5.08 assists/set). Defensively, Hannah Kirk has 115 digs and the team has 81.5 blocks on the season, led by Mackenzie Rombach with 36.
A Look Ahead
UAB will host in-state rival Troy on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. in Bartow Arena before hosting the annual Fight Like Hal Memorial Invitational from Sept. 15-17.
