Blazers Sweep 49ers to Wrap Season

Sunday, November 16

Charlotte, N.C.

12:00 p.m.

UAB

13-15,6-10American

Charlotte

17-11,8-8American

UAB

Charlotte

Blazers Sweep 49ers to Wrap Season

11/16/2025 5:59:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Blazer Volleyball ended the 2025 season with an emphatic sweep over Charlotte. Dominant performances from Jorda Crook, Summer Snead, and Addyson Smock led the Blazers to a .275 hitting day with 12 blocks in just three sets.

UAB got out to dominant starts in all three sets, forcing a Charlotte timeout prior to the media slot in each frame.

The Blazers' 12 blocks were the most in a true away three-set match since before 2016. It was the second-highest total in any three-set match this season, following 14 in the Blazers' loss to Morehead State during week three of non-conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED
10 of the first 11 points were a direct result of either a UAB kill, ace, or service error. The Blazers held a 6-5 lead after five kills and an ace, along with four Blazer service errors. UAB quickly fixed its woes and went on a five-point run with two Crook kills and blocks from Annastiina Tarkkanen and Smock. Charlotte began to chip away at the UAB lead with five kills and a block over a nine-point span. The Blazers stunted the Charlotte momentum with a four-point run led by Abby Jones. The 49ers once again cut down the UAB lead, this time to three, but another four-point run from the Blazers sealed the set in favor of UAB. Crook tallied a match-high eight kills in the opening frame. Tarkkanen's three blocks in the first set tied her career-high for a match.

UAB went on a 6-1 run after the set opened with a Blazer attack error. After Charlotte cut the UAB lead in half, the Blazers responded with three consecutive blocks, forcing a 49er timeout at 10-5. UAB kept its distance from the 49ers before a 4-0 run forced Charlotte's second time out down eight. Charlotte once again cut the UAB advantage in half, but a pair of 49er errors set up a Jones ace to win the set for the Blazers. After a two-for-two first set, Snead recorded five kills on five attempts in the second set to continue her perfect day.

The third set looked to be Charlotte's first steady start to a set after blowing up a 5-2 UAB lead to take a 6-5 lead themselves. However, UAB responded with seven straight points, only one of which was a Charlotte unforced error. UAB held its strong lead to 19-11, forcing UAB's second timeout of the set to be called. The 49ers came out of the stoppage blazing on a 7-2 run, all of which resulted in kills. After UAB called just its second timeout of the match. The timeout stopped the Charlotte momentum as a pair of Crook and Mia Reese kills clinched the set and match for the Blazers.

STANDOUTS
After two perfect sets, Snead finished with eight kills on nine attempts, the best qualified hitting performance by a Blazer since Emily Rudolph hit 4-for-4, only playing one set vs North Texas on Oct. 7, 2016. Snead is the only player to hit above .800, playing in all three sets since 2015. Snead added three blocks, finishing with 10.0 points.

Tarkkanen had a career day defensively with a career-high four total blocks, including her second career solo block. Tarkken also had 11 digs, recording her third consecutive double-double and sixth overall this season.

Crook led the Blazers in kills again, finishing the conference season a perfect 16-for-16. Crook's 18 kills across three sets mark the third time this season she's averaged six kills per set in a match. Crook's four blocks and two aces brought her total to 22.0 points on the day. Crook hit .311, the fourth time this season she's hit at a .300 clip or higher.

Reese finished just shy of another double-double with 10 kills and nine digs. Reese also tallied one solo block.

Smock was dominant at the net, tallying six total blocks. Six blocks ties her career high and is the fifth time she's reached the mark this season.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Blazers only graduate one, setter Izabella Carter. With 99.92% of the offensive production and 95% of all digs still rostered, UAB will have a strong, experienced core entering the 2026 season.

UAB adds three freshmen, all signed officially on National Signing Day this past Wednesday. Ingrid Dittmar, a 6-foot setter from Zanesville, Ohio, Makayla Meister, a 6'1" outside hitter from Newark, Ohio, and Payton Sirdine, a 6'1" pin from Bloomfield, Conn., add size and physicality to already deep position groups.

After tying with UTSA for eighth place this season, the Blazers only look to improve and return to the American Conference tournament in a year's time.