The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Pair of Blazers Pegged for Conference USA All-Freshman Team
11/20/2019 12:33:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
DALLAS – The UAB volleyball team's setter Rachel Morse and outside hitter Fernanda Maida each garnered selections for the Conference USA All-Freshman Team by the Conference USA coaches, the league announced on Wednesday.
The accomplishment by Morse and Maida marks the first time two Blazers have been selected to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team. UAB has not received any selection to a non-academic All-Conference USA team since Gabby Deshotel was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team in 2015. The Blazers have not earned a Conference USA All-Freshman Team selection since Sam Skinner in 2012.
"It means a lot that we have two freshman recognized by the other coaches and the conference. It shows that we are trending in the right direction recruiting, and we are building a competitive culture," said coach Amy Pauly. "Individual awards are a reflection of the support around you, and I'm thankful we had great upperclassman leading by example and helping them find success throughout their first year."
The Blazer offense ran through Morse as she played in nearly every set this season, leading the team in assists with 835 (8.88 a/s) to rank sixth in conference. The San Antonio native also finished third on the squad in aces with 25, ranking 13th in Conference USA. She also contributed on the defensive end, picking up a career-high 17 digs twice this season and finishing second on the team in digs with 235 (2.50 d/s) on the year. With her balanced production, Morse totaled 10 double doubles on the year with five in conference play. In conference play alone, she ranked fifth in assists with 452 (9.22 d/s).
Morse had a career night against Mississippi State, notching a personal-best 54 assists against the Bulldogs and earning a selection to the Hail State Invitational All-Tournament Team. In total, she piled up 40+ assists in eight matches. The setter earns the seasonal award after being named Conference USA Freshman of the Week on Oct. 7 following a 40 assists and 14 dig performance in UAB's first conference win over Middle Tennessee.
"I'm so impressed by Rachel's ability to grow over the course of the season," said Pauly. "She played almost every point of every set for us and because of her dedication to our process, she was playing her best volleyball at the end of the year. That's hard for a freshman to do."
Maida finished with the second-most kills per set on the team at 2.57 with 172 total kills. The Cochabamba, Bolivia, native tallied 75 digs (1.12 d/s) and 21 total blocks (0.31 b/s) on the year. Maida was selected to the Samford Invitational All-Tournament Team after totaling 33 kills and 20 digs, including one double double and one finish with a .429 attacking percentage. She hammered down a career-high 18 kills along with four digs against Florida Atlantic and posted 10+ kills in 10 matches this season, including four conference matches.
"Fernanda has established herself as a point scoring threat in C-USA," said Pauly. "I'm so proud of how she is adapting to our systems and she's just going to continue to get better."
For more information on the UAB volleyball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter or Instagram (@UAB_VB).
The accomplishment by Morse and Maida marks the first time two Blazers have been selected to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team. UAB has not received any selection to a non-academic All-Conference USA team since Gabby Deshotel was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team in 2015. The Blazers have not earned a Conference USA All-Freshman Team selection since Sam Skinner in 2012.
"It means a lot that we have two freshman recognized by the other coaches and the conference. It shows that we are trending in the right direction recruiting, and we are building a competitive culture," said coach Amy Pauly. "Individual awards are a reflection of the support around you, and I'm thankful we had great upperclassman leading by example and helping them find success throughout their first year."
The Blazer offense ran through Morse as she played in nearly every set this season, leading the team in assists with 835 (8.88 a/s) to rank sixth in conference. The San Antonio native also finished third on the squad in aces with 25, ranking 13th in Conference USA. She also contributed on the defensive end, picking up a career-high 17 digs twice this season and finishing second on the team in digs with 235 (2.50 d/s) on the year. With her balanced production, Morse totaled 10 double doubles on the year with five in conference play. In conference play alone, she ranked fifth in assists with 452 (9.22 d/s).
Morse had a career night against Mississippi State, notching a personal-best 54 assists against the Bulldogs and earning a selection to the Hail State Invitational All-Tournament Team. In total, she piled up 40+ assists in eight matches. The setter earns the seasonal award after being named Conference USA Freshman of the Week on Oct. 7 following a 40 assists and 14 dig performance in UAB's first conference win over Middle Tennessee.
"I'm so impressed by Rachel's ability to grow over the course of the season," said Pauly. "She played almost every point of every set for us and because of her dedication to our process, she was playing her best volleyball at the end of the year. That's hard for a freshman to do."
Maida finished with the second-most kills per set on the team at 2.57 with 172 total kills. The Cochabamba, Bolivia, native tallied 75 digs (1.12 d/s) and 21 total blocks (0.31 b/s) on the year. Maida was selected to the Samford Invitational All-Tournament Team after totaling 33 kills and 20 digs, including one double double and one finish with a .429 attacking percentage. She hammered down a career-high 18 kills along with four digs against Florida Atlantic and posted 10+ kills in 10 matches this season, including four conference matches.
"Fernanda has established herself as a point scoring threat in C-USA," said Pauly. "I'm so proud of how she is adapting to our systems and she's just going to continue to get better."
For more information on the UAB volleyball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter or Instagram (@UAB_VB).
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