Vaughn's 26 Kills Propel Blazers to Reverse Sweep Victory

Friday, September 19

Birmingham, AL

3:30 p.m.

UAB

7-4,0-0American

South Alabama

5-5,0-0Sun Belt

UAB

South Alabama

Vaughn's 26 Kills Propel Blazers to Reverse Sweep Victory

9/19/2025 7:22:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Freshman Kennedy Vaughn's 26 kills, the most by a Blazer this season, fueled Blazer Volleyball to a reverse sweep victory over South Alabama. With 10 kills through two sets, Vaughn hit .357 in the final three sets, including a six-for-10 errorless final set.

In a career night for many Blazers, UAB set season-highs as a team in kills, assists, and digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
South Alabama jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first set, with the Jaguars earning eight of the nine points themselves. UAB began to draw closer to South Alabama, pulling within two points before the Jaguars went on a six-point run to take a 20-12 lead, securing the set victory for South Alabama.

UAB and South Alabama traded points to begin the second set, with UAB taking a narrow 8-7 lead. The Jaguars then used a seven-point run to pull away from the Blazers. The run proved to be enough for the Jaguars, as neither team was able to win more than two consecutive points during the rest of the set.

A three-point run gave South Alabama a 12-8 lead, priming the Jaguars for a straight-set victory; however, a 9-4 Blazer run flipped the script of the set, putting the Blazers ahead for the first time late in a set. Another run, this time four points, was enough for the Blazers to pull away and cruise to a 25-21 set victory. Vaughn and Abby Jones combined for nine kills on 24 attempts without an error. Five blocks, including three each from Kennedy Jones and Summer Snead, were the most by the Blazers in a set.

Neither team could pull ahead in the fourth set, with just two points separating the teams until the media timeout. Finally, a five-point UAB run put the Blazers up 21-15; however, South Alabama responded with a six-point run of their own to tie the set at 21. A pair of kills from Vaughn and a couple of Jaguar errors led UAB to the narrowest set victory of the match, 26-24. Vaughn dominated the set for UAB with eight kills, tied for the most by a Blazer in a single set this season.

The fifth set was all UAB, with the Blazers taking a 3-0 lead to start the set before going up 10-4. Despite South Alabama's best attempt, UAB was able to clinch the match on Vaughn's 26^th kill of the match, wrapping up her career match in the clutch. The Blazers hit .579 in the deciding set, the second-best team mark of the season. Vaughn tallied six kills in the set herself, joined by three from Jones and a pair from Lia Beverly.

STANDOUTS
Vaughn breaks Crook's season-high with 26 kills, the most by a Blazer since Fernanda Maida's 32 at Old Dominion in 2021. Vaughn also recorded seven digs, three aces, and two blocks in the match.

Jones set a season high with 15 kills against the Jaguars, with only one error in the match, which was her third-highest hitting percentage of the season.

The UAB middles, Beverly and Summer Snead, each set career highs with 10 and nine kills, respectively. Beverly added four blocks to her .500 hitting night, while Snead stuffed the Jaguars six times to go along with her .615 hitting percentage.

Riley Lovell set a career-high with 32 assists, marking her first-career double-double with 10 digs.

Meg Jarrett set a new career-high with 25 digs, the first time a Blazer has cracked the 20-mark this season.

In just her second-career match, Kennedy Jones set a career-best with five blocks. Addyson Smock notched four blocks to go along with her three kills.

NOTABLES

The Blazers 64 kills as a team were the most by a UAB team since its 69 vs Charlotte (11/4/23).
UAB totaled 62 assists as a team, the most since 63 vs Charlotte (11/4/24).
The Blazers 67 digs were the most in a match this season.
Vaughn's eight kills in the fourth set were tied for the most by a Blazer in a single set this season. (Crook, fourth set vs Jacksonville).
Vaughn's 62 total attempts were the most by a Blazer this season.
Along with kills and attempts, Vaughn set a career-high with three aces.
Beverly set career highs with 10 kills and 18 attacks, while tying her career-high with four blocks.
Snead set career-highs with nine kills and six block assists, tying her career-high with six total blocks.
Jarrett's 25 digs were a career-high and the most by a Blazer this season.
Lovell's 32 assists and 10 digs were both career-highs. The match marked her first career double-double.

UP NEXT
The Blazers will face in-city rivals Samford tomorrow with the tournament finale at 6:30 p.m. at Pete Hanna Center. Samford is 4-5 entering Friday, and plays Auburn prior to their match against the Blazers.