The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Samford University
Weekly Preview: UAB Visits Samford, South Alabama
9/12/2023 4:32:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM – UAB Volleyball has a full slate of matches this week, with a mid-week and weekend tournament on the docket. The Blazers take on crosstown opponent Samford on Wednesday at Samford before traveling to Mobile to play in the Alabama Showdown hosted by South Alabama. The Green and Gold will face No. 24 Auburn and South Alabama.
The Blazers (2-7, 0-0 AAC) will play in their final set of non-conference matches this week before opening up conference play in Bartow Arena Sept. 23 and 24.
UAB (2-7, 0-0 AAC) vs. Samford (4-5, 0-0 SoCon)
Sept. 13 | 7 PM | Pete Hanna Center | Birmingham, Ala.
WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Samford enters the 2023 Season with a record of 4-5. Their last meeting came from a loss to Georgia, where UGA defeated Samford in three sets at the conclusion of the Bulldog Classic. They closed out the prior weekend with a meeting against Florida State University, dropping the meeting with the Seminoles in three sets.
The Blazers and Bulldogs meet again this season, with the prior meeting resulting in a 1-3 loss for UAB in 2022. The record has seen Samford win three matches in a row in the past seven meetings. Pairing up, the Blazers total more kills than the Bulldogs, with 450 to Samford's 403. However, the attack percentage sits lower on the Blazers' side. Samford sits in the top half of the SoCon in kills, service aces, hitting percentage, and points scored.
UAB (2-7, 0-0 AAC) vs. No. 24 Auburn (7-1, 0-0 SEC)
Sept. 15 | 2:30 PM | Jaguar Gym | Mobile, Ala.
LIVE STATS
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
The Blazers revisit the No. 24 (AVCA) ranked Tigers, this time in a neutral site at the Jaguar Gym. The last meeting between the two teams saw a five-set thriller in Bartow Arena, where the Blazers fell to Auburn two sets to three.
As of Sept. 12, the Tigers were named No. 24 to the AVCA Coaches' Poll after collecting seven wins and dropping one match to Middle Tennessee. Auburn ranks ninth in the nation in hitting percentage and second in the SEC. They have three top 25 statistical rankings as a team (hitting percentage, kills per set, W-L percentage).
On the defensive, Auburn holds their opponents to a hitting percentage of .178, courtesy of Kendal Kemp, who leads in blocks with 37 total. Kemp is ranked 77th in the nation in total blocks and fifth in the conference. In addition to Kemp, Libero Sarah Morton is the leader in digs with a total of 91.
UAB (2-7, 0-0 AAC) vs. South Alabama (7-2, 0-0 SunBelt)
Sept. 16 | 3:30 PM | Jaguar Gym | Mobile, Ala.
WATCH LIVE
SCOUTING THE JAGUARS
The Jaguars revisit the Blazers for their first meeting since 2003. The last meeting between the two teams saw a Blazer win over the Jaguars in a straight set victory. Entering the 2023 season, the Jaguars hold a 7-2 record with a 3-0 record at home. Their only two losses would come from FAMU and Georgia Tech at the FAMU Invitational.
Outside of the losses to the Rattlers and Yellow Jackets, South Alabama has maintained three and four-set wins since the beginning of the season. The Jaguars are ranked top-three in five Statistical categories in the Sunbelt, including a number one ranking in assists and points. Hannah Maddux and Maddie Soboleski lead the way in kills, with Maddux totalling 152 points and 127 kills as of Sept. 12. Soboleski trails with 122 kills and 133.5 points off of a .210 hitting percentage.
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