The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Friday, October 11
El Paso, Texas
7 p.m.
UAB
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UTEP
Blazers Trek to Lone Star State to Take on UTEP, UTSA
10/10/2019 9:59:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM – The UAB volleyball team dives deeper into its conference slate this weekend as it heads to Texas for a pair of matchups with UTEP and UTSA. The Blazers will first stop in El Paso, Texas to take on UTEP on Friday at 7 p.m. CT. UAB will then head east to San Antonio, finishing up the weekend at UTSA on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matches will have live stats and a live stream available with links located on the UAB volleyball schedule page.
UAB this season
The Blazers (9-7, 1-2 C-USA) picked up their first conference win of the season last weekend, downing Middle Tennessee 3-1 after rattling off three straight sets in which they outscored the Blue Raiders by 26 points.
As a unit, UAB has been clinical from the baseline, averaging 1.9 aces per set. That mark currently places the Green and Gold second in Conference USA and sixth in the NCAA.
Individually, the Blazers have been led by a veteran and a rookie. Redshirt junior outside hitter Emma Mitchell has been a focal point in both phases, hammering down 189 kills and picking up 155 digs this season, both of which are team bests.
True freshman setter Rachel Morse has orchestrated the offense this season, piling up a team-leading 478 assists along with 16 aces and 147 digs on the year. Morse's performance against Middle Tennessee earned her Conference USA Freshman of the Week honors as the San Antonio native totaled 40 assists and 14 digs to achieve the award and her seventh double double of the season. Morse also had five kills and a block in the match.
Scouting UTEP
The Miners enter the matchup at 7-9 overall with an 0-3 conference record after being swept by Rice and falling twice in a home and home with UTSA, 3-1.
UTEP has relied on its serving and defense much of the season to churn out victories as it sits fourth in the conference and No. 34 in the nation in aces with 104 on the year, while coming in third in the conference and ranking near the top 50 in the nation in blocks with 142 this season.
Junior middle blocker Mallory Yost has been the most proficient defender for the Miners, compiling 55 total blocks on the season. Junior setter Syenna Masaki has been surgical from the baseline for UTEP, totaling 19 aces this year.
The Blazers currently hold the all-time series lead, 12-6. UAB owns the longest streak of the series after winning eight straight matches from 2006-11. The Blazers also won the most recent contest between the two sides, topping the Miners 3-1 a season ago in Bartow Arena.
Scouting UTSA
The Roadrunners come into the contest at 10-7 overall and 3-1 in conference play after getting swept by Rice and taking down UTEP 3-1 last weekend.
UTSA has fielded a potent offense this season, ranking near the top of the conference in multiple categories. The Roadrunners currently lead the league in assists with 781 this season, also placing second in the conference in kills with 833 and aces with 121. On a national scale, UTSA's tally of aces this season ranks as high as No. 10 in the NCAA.
Senior defensive specialist Emily Ramirez has spearheaded the Roadrunners' serving efforts, landing 32 aces to move up to second in Conference USA and No. 11 in the NCAA rankings.
The Roadrunners currently own the all-time series edge, 9-1. The Blazers won the first meeting of the squads, 3-2, in 1994 in Bartow Arena. UTSA has won each match since.
Up Next
UAB will next come home to host another conference match against FIU. The Blazers and Panthers are scheduled to square off on Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. in Bartow Arena. Individual tickets are available now, and links for live stats and a live stream will be provided on the UAB volleyball schedule page.
Volleyball season tickets are on sale by purchasing the 2019-20 Gold Card for $65. The Gold Card is an exclusive offer that grants you admission into all UAB volleyball, men's and women's soccer, women's basketball, baseball and softball events for the upcoming academic year. Contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB volleyball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter or Instagram (@UAB_VB).
UAB this season
The Blazers (9-7, 1-2 C-USA) picked up their first conference win of the season last weekend, downing Middle Tennessee 3-1 after rattling off three straight sets in which they outscored the Blue Raiders by 26 points.
As a unit, UAB has been clinical from the baseline, averaging 1.9 aces per set. That mark currently places the Green and Gold second in Conference USA and sixth in the NCAA.
Individually, the Blazers have been led by a veteran and a rookie. Redshirt junior outside hitter Emma Mitchell has been a focal point in both phases, hammering down 189 kills and picking up 155 digs this season, both of which are team bests.
True freshman setter Rachel Morse has orchestrated the offense this season, piling up a team-leading 478 assists along with 16 aces and 147 digs on the year. Morse's performance against Middle Tennessee earned her Conference USA Freshman of the Week honors as the San Antonio native totaled 40 assists and 14 digs to achieve the award and her seventh double double of the season. Morse also had five kills and a block in the match.
Scouting UTEP
The Miners enter the matchup at 7-9 overall with an 0-3 conference record after being swept by Rice and falling twice in a home and home with UTSA, 3-1.
UTEP has relied on its serving and defense much of the season to churn out victories as it sits fourth in the conference and No. 34 in the nation in aces with 104 on the year, while coming in third in the conference and ranking near the top 50 in the nation in blocks with 142 this season.
Junior middle blocker Mallory Yost has been the most proficient defender for the Miners, compiling 55 total blocks on the season. Junior setter Syenna Masaki has been surgical from the baseline for UTEP, totaling 19 aces this year.
The Blazers currently hold the all-time series lead, 12-6. UAB owns the longest streak of the series after winning eight straight matches from 2006-11. The Blazers also won the most recent contest between the two sides, topping the Miners 3-1 a season ago in Bartow Arena.
Scouting UTSA
The Roadrunners come into the contest at 10-7 overall and 3-1 in conference play after getting swept by Rice and taking down UTEP 3-1 last weekend.
UTSA has fielded a potent offense this season, ranking near the top of the conference in multiple categories. The Roadrunners currently lead the league in assists with 781 this season, also placing second in the conference in kills with 833 and aces with 121. On a national scale, UTSA's tally of aces this season ranks as high as No. 10 in the NCAA.
Senior defensive specialist Emily Ramirez has spearheaded the Roadrunners' serving efforts, landing 32 aces to move up to second in Conference USA and No. 11 in the NCAA rankings.
The Roadrunners currently own the all-time series edge, 9-1. The Blazers won the first meeting of the squads, 3-2, in 1994 in Bartow Arena. UTSA has won each match since.
Up Next
UAB will next come home to host another conference match against FIU. The Blazers and Panthers are scheduled to square off on Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. in Bartow Arena. Individual tickets are available now, and links for live stats and a live stream will be provided on the UAB volleyball schedule page.
Volleyball season tickets are on sale by purchasing the 2019-20 Gold Card for $65. The Gold Card is an exclusive offer that grants you admission into all UAB volleyball, men's and women's soccer, women's basketball, baseball and softball events for the upcoming academic year. Contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB volleyball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter or Instagram (@UAB_VB).
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