The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
4-23,2-13AAC
Charlotte
10-16,3-11AAC
Volleyball Prevails in Five-Set Win Over Charlotte
11/4/2023 7:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM – UAB Volleyball secured a home victory over Charlotte on homecoming weekend, going the distance to obtain the 3-2 win over the 49ers. The Blazers, who dropped the first match Friday in five sets, rallied back to improve their record to 4-23 overall and 2-13 in the AAC.
The Green and Gold put up a record-setting night, totaling 201 attempts, a single-match program record. Kelsey Smith racked up her second consecutive triple-double of the season, while three Blazers joined her with double-digit kills on the night.
IN THE SETS
UAB trailed Charlotte 1-4 before gathering their footing with the help of Chloe Rodriguez, who went 4-4 in kills in the Blazers' 8-1 scoring run to take the lead. Rodriguez added one more kill before Charlotte tied. UAB and Charlotte tied four more times before Rodriguez and Jorda Crook posted three kills to regain the lead. The Blazers were unable to maintain the lead, with Charlotte out-hitting UAB 9-5 to take set one.
Set two saw UAB jump out 5-0 before Charlotte rallied back to tie at six. The Green and Gold maintained the lead before Charlotte found momentum to get within three with a kill from the 49ers' Parker. Charlotte had another 3-0 spurt, but they would be unable to keep up, dropping set two.
Set three mirrored the second, with a 5-0 lead for the Blazers, with Chloe Rodriguez leading the way with a kill and ace to extend the lead to 10-6. UAB continued to roll, taking advantage of errors to continue the lead. The Blazers kept Charlotte at arm's length to extend the lead, eventually going on a 6-0 run to take set three 25-16.
Charlotte responded in the fourth set with a 12-9 lead following a 7-1 run. The Blazers also responded with a run to tie the score at 16. The scoring runs continued after a series of kills and blocks from the 49ers to lead 22-16 in favor of Charlotte. The Blazers would rally back after an error from Charlotte, followed by two kills and an ace, but would not secure set four.
The deciding set saw the Blazers outhitting Charlotte .231 to .125. However, the 49ers were in control to start the set, holding UAB to five points before a service error reversed sides. With the score at 8-6, UAB trailed by three after a block. The Blazers regained control and confidence in attacking after kills from Kelsey Smith and Asli Celikkol put the Blazers within one. UAB and Charlotte tied twice more, but it would be the Blazers who put up four straight to secure the set and match.
IN THE BOX
- The Blazers hit .224 on 201 attacks, besting the prior single-match program record of 193 versus Xavier in 2022.
- The Green and Gold additionally bested the prior single-match record of digs, posting 102 and besting the previous record of 98 versus Cleveland State in 2022.
- UAB put up a defensive effort in addition to their digs, with Anna Burkhart posting a career-high 32.
- Kelsey Smith finished with her second consecutive triple-double on the weekend with 13 kills, 29 assists, and 15 digs.
- Asli Celikkol, Kelsey Smith, Mia Reese, and Chloe Rodriguez finished with double-digit kills.
- Celikkol finished with a double-double, posting 20 kills and 15 digs for the Green and Gold.
UP NEXT
UAB travels to Philadelphia to take on the Temple Owls on Friday and Saturday, November 10 and 11.
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