The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
-78,21 CUSA
Middle Tennessee
-115,02 CUSA
Blazers Obtain Two More Milestones in Five-Set Win Over MTSU
10/1/2022 8:26:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM – The Blazers finished the evening on a positive note, with two milestones to add to the arsenal. UAB closed out the evening with a five-set win over MTSU on Friday Night in Bartow Arena.
The Blazers closed the match adding a second and third 1,000-kill club member with Maia Rackel and Alex Kells. Rackel finished the night with 10 kills and 10 digs. Kells also finished the night with a double-double, totaling a team-leading 23 kills and 11 digs for the Blazers.
"This match was really intense from start to finish," said Betsy Freeburg. "It was two teams competing hard for every point, and it's great to come out on top. We did not play our best, yet we played together and fought hard and believed in each other. We've had a lot of experience in 5 set matches this year, and we were so composed and ready to take on the challenge of the match"
IN THE SETS
Both teams battled early in set one. The Blazers went on a burst in set one with a series of kills, while the Blue Raiders responded with a run of their own to gain the upper hand. It would be a game of runs for both squads, but the Blue Raiders' attack percentage of .323, combined with 15 kills as a team outnumbered the Blazers' 12 kills and .219 attack percentage. MTSU took set one, 25-23.
UAB began to gain momentum in set two, capitalizing off errors from the Blue Raiders to gain a sizable 13-6 lead. The score would at no point shift or change leads in favor of MTSU. At 23 points, the Blue Raiders responded with a run to hold UAB and close the score margin to four. But the set-winning point came from Rackel, who delivered her 1000th career kill to give the Green and Gold a 25-19 win.
Set three saw MTSU take the lead, but eventually collapsed after a series of attacking errors. The Blue Raiders did not recover, and a 6-0 run put the Blazers within two points of taking the third set. Though both teams finished with seven errors in this set, UAB's .243 attack percentage is what gave the team the push to take the 2-1 lead.
The final two sets saw sways in favor of both squads, but it would be a test of teamwork to see who finished on top. Set four began to lean to the Blazers, where a kill from Kells gave her 1,000th career kill and put UAB on a run. But MTSU outlasted the Blazers long enough to throw their momentum off. The Blue Raiders gained the lead and eventually tied the set at two apiece with a 25-19 win.
The final set had lapses on both sides. The score deadlocked 11 times, with both teams struggling to push the margin past two points. A challenge to tie the score from MTSU would be deemed unsuccessful, giving the second to last tie at 13 before back-to-back kills and a block from Chloe Rodriguez and Kiana Mack gave the Blazers the set and match with a score of 16-14.
Stat leaders for the Blazers included Kells who led the team in kills with 23, a tie for her career high. Erin Powers finished the night with 17 digs, while Canturk led in assists with 56, just two assists shy of her career high of 58. Canturk and Rackel finished with two aces apiece for UAB.
QUOTES FROM BETSY FREEBURG
"Having 3 players reach 1,000 kills in one week is truly hard to wrap my head around. It really is a testament to each of their hard work. Alex has been so good in C-USA play, and she's being so intentional with how she is attacking the volleyball right now."
"While most of Maia's kills have come before her time at UAB, it couldn't have meant more for her 1,000th kill to come to close out a set we really needed! For all 3 of those players, Fern, Alex & Maia, 1,000 kills are truly a testament to their work and their execution. Each of them is so different in their personalities and their approach to being their best, and to have 3 players reach 1,000 kills in a week is so impressive. We are so happy they are Blazers!"
QUOTES FROM MAIA RACKEL
"It was super exciting getting my 1,000th kill. I was aware going into the match that I was close to achieving the milestone, but I couldn't be prouder of the team's achievements tonight. Getting a five-set win against a conference opponent was amazing and couldn't have been done without the team's bought-in effort."
"Getting 1,000 kills couldn't have happened without the support of my teammates. We push each other daily to improve and find different ways to score the ball. I am grateful for the competitiveness and incentive to make us better."
QUOTES FROM ALEX KELLS
"I was aware, but I was also very focused on taking the game one point at a time and working together as a team to get the dub! Tonight's match and accomplishments were definitely a team effort, and I couldn't be prouder."
"This milestone has been a goal of mine since I was a freshman at UAB. Having accomplished this with a win on our home court made it all the more special!"
UP NEXT
The Blazers have a light weekend, with no Sunday matches on schedule. They return to action on the road against Florida Atlantic and Florida International on Friday, Oct. 7 and Sunday Oct. 9.
To keep up to date with the UAB Volleyball Team, follow @UAB_VB on Instagram and Twitter.
