Volleyball Tops LA Tech 3-1

Sunday, October 16

Birmingham, Ala.

1 p.m.

UAB

-811,34 CUSA

Louisiana Tech

-913,25 CUSA

Louisiana Tech

UAB

Volleyball Tops LA Tech 3-1

10/16/2022 5:16:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB Volleyball Team (8-11, 3-4 C-USA) triumphed over Louisiana Tech (9-13, 2-5 C-USA) in four sets. The Blazers, who came off a loss against No. 22 Rice, reenter the W column with their Sunday afternoon win in Bartow Arena.

"Today was a huge team win against a scrappy Louisiana Tech team. After set one, every point felt like a battle, and we knew we were going to have to earn our points. " said head coach Betsy Freeburg on the team's win.

IN THE SETS
Entering the first set, the Blazers started hot, where they jumped out in front of the Lady Techsters with a score of 7-3. UAB kept their foot on the gas, delivering a 5-0 run to jump out to a ten-point lead over LA Tech. The Lady Techsters responded with a 4-0 run to get within six points. But the Blazers kept their foot on the gas and closed out with an ace to give them a 25-18 win in set one.

The following set saw LA Tech respond almost immediately, jumping out 3-0 over UAB before the run was quelled by a service ace from the Lady Techsters. The score remained close, with the margin tying nine times in the set. The Blazers started to gain control with a series of aces and kills from Maia Rackel and Erin Powers. UAB remained in cruise control, with the Lady Techsters just a few points behind. The Blazers finished the set with a 25-20 win to take the 2-0 lead.

In the third set, the beginning stages mirrored the second, with LA Tech leading three to nothing, but the Lady Techsters continued to maintain that lead, working off of errors from the Blazers. UAB contributed three straight attack errors to give LA Tech the upper hand, scoring 13-8. On the defensive side, the Lady Techsters would only allow six more points, taking set three 25-14.

The fourth and final set stayed close, with the score tying ten times and the lead changing seven times. The Blazers took an early lead before LA Tech tied the score up at two apiece; the score then tied again at five before UAB went on a series of runs to advance to a two-point lead. The momentum would take big swings, with the Blazers going on a 5-0 run and LA Tech tying the score up with a 4-0 run. The deciding factor that gave the set and match would be a block from Rackel and Jay Collins, giving UAB the 25-20 win in the set.

IN THE BOX
The efforts from the Blazers were collective, with a Blazer tallying a double-double on the day. Rackel finished the match one kill short of 20 and totaled ten digs for the Blazers. Fernanda Maida joined Rackel with a total of 16 kills for UAB. Katy Schroeder would join in with some action, hitting .500 and contributing four kills for the Green and Gold.

On the defensive, Erin Powers totaled 18 digs in the match, nearly a third of the digs racked up for the Blazers.

UAB outperformed the Lady Techsters in four statistical categories: kills, assists, and digs. LA Tech contributed more aces on the day, with six to the Blazers' five, totaling fewer errors with 19 to UAB's 25. However, the Blazers totaled 18 kills to LATech's eight in the final set.

QUOTES FROM COACH FREEBURG
"The team set an intention earlier this week to have fast bouncebacks, and we sure needed that after set three. Proud of our team for their fight in set four to lead us to the win."

"Maia Rackel was huge for us tonight and was so smart in her attacking and shot selection. Erin Powers put forth another great defensive effort that put us in situations to transition."

"Katy Schroeder did a great job coming in during set four and providing an offensive spark we needed. She has been working hard in practices, and we knew she would be ready when her name was called."

UP NEXT
The Blazers will travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn., where they will take on the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Friday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m.

To keep up with the UAB Volleyball Team, follow @UAB_VB on Instagram and Twitter.