The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Thursday, September 12
Birmingham, Ala. / Bartow Arena
7 p.m.
UAB
vs
Alabama
UAB Set to Host Alabama to Kick off Blazer Invitational
9/11/2019 3:46:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM – The UAB Volleyball team will host its first tournament of the Amy Pauly era as Alabama, Georgia State, Alcorn State and ETSU come to Birmingham to compete in the Blazer Invitational on Sept. 12-14 in Bartow Arena. There will be eight total matches throughout the event with the opener on Thursday, four matches on Friday and the final three matches on Saturday.
UAB will kick off the tournament by hosting Alabama at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Friday's matches will begin with Alabama and Georgia State at 10 a.m., followed by UAB against Alcorn State at noon, Alcorn State versus ETSU at 3 p.m. and UAB taking on Georgia State at 7 p.m. The final day of action will feature Alabama battling Alcorn State at 10 a.m., Georgia State facing off against ETSU at noon and UAB wrapping up the tournament with ETSU at 4:30 p.m.
Tickets
There are various ticket packages to choose from for those planning to attend matches. As with all UAB home matches, each individual match of the tournament is $5 per adult and $3 per youth.
For fans interested in attending multiple games, there is a Blazer Invitational 3-Day ticket package available for $12 per adult and $7 per youth. Fans who purchase the Blazer Invitational 3-Day ticket package are allowed to come and go each day with their daily ticket without needing to purchase another ticket package as long as they exit from the designated area. Signage will be provided to indicate the designated exit.
Group tickets are also available for $2 each for groups of 15 or more. To order, call the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 or click here for more details.
Autographs
Before the match, fans will be able to obtain autographed UAB items such as posters and schedule cards from multiple women's teams at the entrance of Bartow Arena. Among the teams available for autographs before the match will be the UAB women's basketball team, women's soccer team, women's tennis team, softball team, track and field team and cross country team. The volleyball team will also participate in a postgame autograph session on the court. The match is also volleyball's SAAC match, which means there will be a free nacho bar located in the Green and Gold Room available for all student athletes that attend the match.
UAB this season
The Blazers (3-3) are an even .500 this season after winning two out of three matches in last weekend's Samford Invitational. UAB handled Jacksonville State and North Alabama both by a score of 3-1 before falling to Samford, 3-1.
On the season, redshirt freshman outside hitter Fernanda Maida continues to lead the Blazer attack with 71 kills this season. Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Anna D'Cruz has anchored the defense so far this season with a team-high 21 total blocks. Redshirt junior Emma Mitchell has contributed on both ends as well with a team-leading 55 digs and second highest kills on the team with 59 to date. From the setter spot, freshman Rachel Morse has been the mainstay with 142 set assists this season, but another freshman has come in as a serving specialist. Grace Koper has compiled 10 aces so far to lead the squad to a conference best 1.91 aces per set.
Scouting Alabama
The Crimson Tide (5-1) comes into the tournament after claiming two of three matches at the VCU Invitational. Alabama swept Navy and took down NC State, 3-1, but fell to host VCU in five sets, 3-2.
The Tide are second in the SEC in blocks with 53 this season. Freshman middle blocker Alyiah Wells has spearheaded that effort, piling up a league high 26 total blocks to date.
In the all-time series, Alabama holds a 21-11 advantage after earning a sweep in the last matchup in 2014. UAB's last victory over the Crimson Tide came by way of a 3-2 five setter on the road in 2007.
Scouting Georgia State
The Panthers (3-3) head into the tournament after picking up one win at the Morehead Tournament. Georgia State defeated Providence, 3-1, before being swept by Morehead State and Presbyterian to wrap up the tournament.
The Panthers are nationally acclaimed on defense in digs per set ranking second in the Sun Belt in the category with a 16.79 average this season. Sophomore libero Lauren Bandera leads that front as she's averaging 6.25 digs per set, which ranks ninth in the nation and first in the conference.
UAB has dominated the all-time series as the Blazers currently have an 11-3 lead over Georgia State. The last time the two sides faced off, UAB took a 3-1 win over the Panthers in Bartow Arena in 2017.
Scouting Alcorn State
The Lady Braves (2-3) will enter the tournament after being swept at the Colonel Classic. Alcorn State was unable to win a set in two matches against Nicholls State or another against South Alabama.
The Lady Braves are third in the SWAC in aces per set with a 1.29 average as junior setter Jasmine Chambers has led the way with a conference high .64 aces per set, which puts her at No. 24 in the nation.
In the all-time series, UAB has won the lone two matches. The Blazers swept the Lady Braves in the last meeting of the two squads at the Magnolia Invitational hosted by Ole Miss in 2009.
Scouting ETSU
The Bucs (5-1) are entering the tournament on the heels of their first loss of the season. ETSU swept Charleston Southern and South Carolina State before falling in five sets to host Coastal Carolina, 3-2, in the Coastal Carolina Classic.
The Bucs are at or near the top of the SoCon in multiple categories, most notably in blocks per set, kills per set and hitting percentage. The Bucs ranks as high as seventh in the nation in hitting percentage with a .357 average and are led by senior middle blocker Kaela Massey, who is currently No. 15 in the nation and first in conference with nearly a .500 average. She also leads the SoCon in blocks with 25 on the year.
UAB holds a slight edge in the all-time series between the two, 3-2. UAB took the last matchup to gain the series lead in five sets, edging out the Bucs 3-2 in Bartow Arena in 2002.
Up Next
UAB will next travel to Starkville, Miss., to compete in the Cowtown Classic hosted by Mississippi State. On Sept. 19, the Blazers will take on North Florida on at 10 a.m. to open the tournament and Jackson State at 5 p.m. to finish the day. UAB will wrap up the tournament against host Mississippi State on Sept. 20 at 5 p.m. Streaming and live stat information will be provided by Mississippi State.
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 will kick off the tournament by hosting Alabama at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Friday's matches will begin with Alabama and Georgia State at 10 a.m., followed by UAB against Alcorn State at noon, Alcorn State versus ETSU at 3 p.m. and UAB taking on Georgia State at 7 p.m. The final day of action will feature Alabama battling Alcorn State at 10 a.m., Georgia State facing off against ETSU at noon and UAB wrapping up the tournament with ETSU at 4:30 p.m.
Tickets
There are various ticket packages to choose from for those planning to attend matches. As with all UAB home matches, each individual match of the tournament is $5 per adult and $3 per youth.
For fans interested in attending multiple games, there is a Blazer Invitational 3-Day ticket package available for $12 per adult and $7 per youth. Fans who purchase the Blazer Invitational 3-Day ticket package are allowed to come and go each day with their daily ticket without needing to purchase another ticket package as long as they exit from the designated area. Signage will be provided to indicate the designated exit.
Group tickets are also available for $2 each for groups of 15 or more. To order, call the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 or click here for more details.
Autographs
Before the match, fans will be able to obtain autographed UAB items such as posters and schedule cards from multiple women's teams at the entrance of Bartow Arena. Among the teams available for autographs before the match will be the UAB women's basketball team, women's soccer team, women's tennis team, softball team, track and field team and cross country team. The volleyball team will also participate in a postgame autograph session on the court. The match is also volleyball's SAAC match, which means there will be a free nacho bar located in the Green and Gold Room available for all student athletes that attend the match.
UAB this season
The Blazers (3-3) are an even .500 this season after winning two out of three matches in last weekend's Samford Invitational. UAB handled Jacksonville State and North Alabama both by a score of 3-1 before falling to Samford, 3-1.
On the season, redshirt freshman outside hitter Fernanda Maida continues to lead the Blazer attack with 71 kills this season. Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Anna D'Cruz has anchored the defense so far this season with a team-high 21 total blocks. Redshirt junior Emma Mitchell has contributed on both ends as well with a team-leading 55 digs and second highest kills on the team with 59 to date. From the setter spot, freshman Rachel Morse has been the mainstay with 142 set assists this season, but another freshman has come in as a serving specialist. Grace Koper has compiled 10 aces so far to lead the squad to a conference best 1.91 aces per set.
Scouting Alabama
The Crimson Tide (5-1) comes into the tournament after claiming two of three matches at the VCU Invitational. Alabama swept Navy and took down NC State, 3-1, but fell to host VCU in five sets, 3-2.
The Tide are second in the SEC in blocks with 53 this season. Freshman middle blocker Alyiah Wells has spearheaded that effort, piling up a league high 26 total blocks to date.
In the all-time series, Alabama holds a 21-11 advantage after earning a sweep in the last matchup in 2014. UAB's last victory over the Crimson Tide came by way of a 3-2 five setter on the road in 2007.
Scouting Georgia State
The Panthers (3-3) head into the tournament after picking up one win at the Morehead Tournament. Georgia State defeated Providence, 3-1, before being swept by Morehead State and Presbyterian to wrap up the tournament.
The Panthers are nationally acclaimed on defense in digs per set ranking second in the Sun Belt in the category with a 16.79 average this season. Sophomore libero Lauren Bandera leads that front as she's averaging 6.25 digs per set, which ranks ninth in the nation and first in the conference.
UAB has dominated the all-time series as the Blazers currently have an 11-3 lead over Georgia State. The last time the two sides faced off, UAB took a 3-1 win over the Panthers in Bartow Arena in 2017.
Scouting Alcorn State
The Lady Braves (2-3) will enter the tournament after being swept at the Colonel Classic. Alcorn State was unable to win a set in two matches against Nicholls State or another against South Alabama.
The Lady Braves are third in the SWAC in aces per set with a 1.29 average as junior setter Jasmine Chambers has led the way with a conference high .64 aces per set, which puts her at No. 24 in the nation.
In the all-time series, UAB has won the lone two matches. The Blazers swept the Lady Braves in the last meeting of the two squads at the Magnolia Invitational hosted by Ole Miss in 2009.
Scouting ETSU
The Bucs (5-1) are entering the tournament on the heels of their first loss of the season. ETSU swept Charleston Southern and South Carolina State before falling in five sets to host Coastal Carolina, 3-2, in the Coastal Carolina Classic.
The Bucs are at or near the top of the SoCon in multiple categories, most notably in blocks per set, kills per set and hitting percentage. The Bucs ranks as high as seventh in the nation in hitting percentage with a .357 average and are led by senior middle blocker Kaela Massey, who is currently No. 15 in the nation and first in conference with nearly a .500 average. She also leads the SoCon in blocks with 25 on the year.
UAB holds a slight edge in the all-time series between the two, 3-2. UAB took the last matchup to gain the series lead in five sets, edging out the Bucs 3-2 in Bartow Arena in 2002.
Up Next
UAB will next travel to Starkville, Miss., to compete in the Cowtown Classic hosted by Mississippi State. On Sept. 19, the Blazers will take on North Florida on at 10 a.m. to open the tournament and Jackson State at 5 p.m. to finish the day. UAB will wrap up the tournament against host Mississippi State on Sept. 20 at 5 p.m. Streaming and live stat information will be provided by Mississippi State.
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).
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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