UAB Takes Two On Friday

Friday, September 15

Birmingham, Ala.

7:00 PM

UAB

5-8

Western Carolina

3-8

WCU

UAB

9/15/2017 10:14:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 UAB 0915 UAB 9152

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB volleyball opens the Fight Like Hal Memorial Tournament with two wins on Friday.

The Blazers coasted past Mississippi Valley State 3-0 (25-7, 25-14, 25-17) in the afternoon match and then fought with Western Carolina in the night cap but eventually took the match 3-1 (25-17, 18-25, 25-20, 25-23).

UAB (5-8) blasted by Mississippi Valley (1-10) in the first set and then emptied the bench for sets two and three. Kenley Adams led the Blazers with 18 assists while Shelby Holderfield chipped in with 15 assists of her own.

Zahria Richard led the green and gold with eight kills against the Devilettes. Emma Mitchell had a season-high six kills and six digs. Kaylee Gilchrist led UAB in digs with 10.

"After the first set we wanted to test our bench a little bit and get some girls in the game who haven't seen much action this year," head coach Kerry Messersmith said. "I was pleased with how well they played. Emma especially, she could have gotten double-digit kills today but credit to Mississippi Valley, they got down and got the digs."

In the night cap, it looked as if UAB was again going to have an easy time of it as they pounded Western Carolina (3-8) in the first set taking it 25-17.

It wasn't meant to be though as the Catamounts mounted a comeback and took the second set 25-18 over the Blazers. In the third, UAB got out to an early 8-5 lead off a four-point run but Western Carolina responded with a 6-1 run of its own to take the lead.

The Catamounts pushed the lead out to 19-17 but UAB closed the set on a 8-1 run to win the third set 25-20.

The fourth set was back-and-forth the whole way with neither team gaining an edge on the other. The Blazers were able to get a big 4-1 scoring run late in the set to gain a 23-21 lead. Like they had all night Western Carolina didn't go away and got the score to within one point twice, even fighting off match point once.

In the end though, Petra Silic came through for UAB and got the final kill of the night to give the Blazers the victory over Western Carolina 25-23.

It was the usual suspects leading UAB against Western Carolina, Gabby Deshotel recorded and double-double with 17 kills and 13 digs. It is the third time she has tallied a double-double this year.
Getting her seventh double-double of 2017 was Haley Jared who earned 11 kills and had 14 digs.

UAB returns to the court on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 2 p.m. in the final game of the Fight Like Hal Tournament. The Blazers will take on the University of New Orleans.