The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
-58,01 CUSA
WKU
-132,10 CUSA
UAB Volleyball Falls to WKU in Conference Opener
9/24/2022 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM – The UAB Volleyball team fell to No. 24 Western Kentucky in their conference opener on Friday night in Bartow Arena. The Blazers (5-8, 0-1 C-USA) dropped three sets to the Hilltoppers (13-2. 1-0 C-USA).
Set one started with an early 4-0 lead by the Hilltoppers, before UAB responded with a kill from Maia Rackel to quell the run. The Blazers went on to tie the score at four apiece, keeping the score in close proximity before WKU went on to extend the lead to 14-9 with a series of runs. A kill from Chloe Rodriguez put the Blazers within three, but the Hilltoppers went on to extend their lead from three, to six, to eight. They were stopped at set point twice by a kill from Fernanda Maida and an error on WKU, but a kill from the Hilltoppers gave them a 25-18 win.
The second set saw the Blazers jumping out with a 3-0 lead from the help of Maida and Kiana Mack, who delivered back-to-back kills. But WKU responded with a run of their own to tie the score at three. UAB maintained the lead, and the Toppers stayed in tow, but eventually gained the lead after a series of kills to put them up 14-13. WKU continued to put down kills and capitalize on errors to put the Blazers down 16-20. The Hilltoppers maintained their four-point lead, eventually extending it to six with a pair of kills. WKU went on to take set two 25-19.
In the final set, WKU again capitalized off early errors from the Blazers, coming out with a 5-0 lead. UAB trailed the entirety of the set and would get as close as three points, however, would not close in on the lead. The Blazers totaled seven errors in set three, causing the lead to expand to 16-9. UAB would not be able to close in on the Hilltoppers, putting up 18 points to WKU's 25 to close out the third and final set of the match.
Stat leaders for the Blazers include Alex Kells and Fernanda Maida, who both finished with 11 kills each. Maia Rackel finished with six kills and two blocks on the night for the Blazers. Lidya Canturk led in assists with 28 and digs with six. Erin Powers also finished the night with six digs.
QUOTES FROM BETSY FREEBURG
"Our passing definitely was a bright spot for us tonight. We have been working hard on that and it was great to see an improvement there."
"We need to continue to transition faster from offense to defense phase and will look to carry that into Charlotte."
UP NEXT
The Blazers travel to the Queen City, where they take on UNC Charlotte on Sunday, Sept. 25 at noon.
To keep up to date with the UAB Volleyball Team, follow @UAB_VB on Instagram and Twitter.
