Blazers Open Conference Play 2-0

Sunday, September 24

El Paso, Texas

1:00 PM

UAB

8-9

UTEP

4-11

UAB

UTEP

Blazers Open Conference Play 2-0

9/24/2017 6:31:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB volleyball improves to 8-9 and 2-0 in Conference USA after beating UTEP 3-1 (25-27, 25-21, 25-20, 25-20).

The Blazers had another strong performance from senior Gabby Deshotel as she racked up 17 kills, nine digs and two service aces. Haley Jared also saw a return to form as she tallied 10 kills, six digs and had three service aces.

Freshman Shelby Holderfield also turned in another strong performance racking up 37 assists and 10 digs. It is the Alabama native's second double-double this season.

"This was a fun weekend," head coach Kerry Messersmith said. "We've been up and down all season but now that we're in conference play it seems like everyone is stepping up their game. The girls are playing together and we are getting the results we had been hoping to see from this group."

It is the first time since 2011 that the Blazers have opened conference play 2-0. UAB currently sits second in the conference behind Western Kentucky who is also 2-0 in C-USA action.

UTEP (4-11, 0-1 C-USA) came out strong in the first set and had UAB on the ropes but the Blazers started to score and made their way back into set. They took the lead late but the Miners answered back and eventually took the set 27-25.

From there though it was all UAB. The Blazers took the momentum they had built up during the tight first set battle and burst out to the lead in the second set, pushing the lead out to 20-13 at one point.

The Miners, fresh off an upset of Rice a couple night before, wouldn't go away and clawed back to within three points. That was as close as they got as UAB put the hammer down and finished off UTEP 25-21 in the second set.

The third set was a tight back-and-forth battle before UAB gained control of the match and put away the Miners 25-20. The fourth set again saw the Blazers jump out to an early lead and they were able to put it in cruise control as UTEP seemingly ran out of gas and UAB took the fourth set 25-20 and the match 3-1.

UAB's next match will see them welcome Charlotte to Bartow Arena on Friday, Sept. 29 with the first serve set for 7 p.m.