Blazers Perfect on Day One of Blazer Invitational

Friday, September 5

Birmingham, AL

1:00 p.m.

UAB

2-2,0-0American

USC Upstate

2-3,0-0Big South

USC Upstate

UAB

Blazers Perfect on Day One of Blazer Invitational

9/5/2025 10:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Blazer Volleyball picked up a pair of 3-0 victories on Friday, defeating USC Upstate and Tennessee Tech on the first day of the Blazer Invitational. UAB opens its home schedule 2-0 for the first time since 2022.

HOW IT HAPPENED
UAB 3, USC Upstate 0
The Blazers got off to a hot start with a nine-point run to take a 13-4 lead in the first set. A pair of Abby Jones aces and kills from Jorda Crook and Summer Snead powered the long streak for UAB. The Blazers kept piling on in the first set, winning 10 of 12 points in a row later in the set.

After three kills on four attempts in the first set, Mia Reese continued her dominance with four more kills on seven errorless attempts in the second set. The UAB middle blockers got their time to shine with Snead and Addyson Smock combining for three of UAB's five blocks in the set.

The entire offense was efficient and effective in the third set as UAB hit .500 on 22 attempts. Crook was perfect on her four attempts, recording a kill on each of them. Smock also was a perfect two-for-two while also notching a block. UAB led early in the set, up 5-1 and 10-3 during the frame. A set error by USC Upstate capped off a 7-1 run to end the match for UAB.

UAB 3, Tennessee Tech 0
The Golden Eagles stuck with UAB for a while in the first set, only trailing by a point before UAB's four-point streak put them up 14-9. Another late run clinched the set for UAB, with Jones and Snead leading a 6-2 run. Lia Beverly continued her perfect start to her career, recording three kills on three attempts.

Annastiina Tarkkanen returned to the UAB lineup from injury which kept her out to of the Crimson Tide Invitational last week. In her second match back, Tarkkanen shined in the second set with a pair of kills and seven assists on just nine set attempts. After falling behind 10-7 in the set, UAB shifted the momentum of the set with a timeout, tying the set at 15. A five-point run then gave UAB a 19-17 lead, which the Blazers would turn into a 25-20 set victory with kills from four different players.

Similar to the first set, the Blazers and Golden Eagles fought back and forth, each going a four-point runs before a 10-10 tie. UAB then won seven of the next 10 points with kills coming from Snead, Crook, Jones, and Beverly. UAB and Tennessee Tech traded short runs until Jones clinched the win for UAB.

STANDOUTS
The trio of Crook, Jones, and Reese shines once again, with Jones leading the day with 22 kills, quickly followed by Crook's 20, while Reese led all qualified hitters with a .467 hitting percentage.

Tarkkanen led the Blazers with 42 assists across six sets. Tarkkanen was also one of four Blazers to record double-digit digs on the day, joined by Crook, Reese, and the team leader, Delaney Bowser.

The blocks were spread far and wide for UAB, with seven different Blazers recording three or more blocks. Snead led the pack with six total blocks, including one solo block.

NOTABLES

UAB won two 3-0 matches on the same day for the first time since September 8, 2018, when UAB defeated North Dakota and Troy in straight sets.
Reese set a new career-high hitting percentage at .643 with nine kills on 14 attempts vs USC Upstate.
Snead had another career-high-setting day with six kills on eight attacks against Tennessee Tech.
Tarkkanen set a career-high with two kills
Kennedy Vaughn had her breakout game vs Tennessee Tech with six kills and a .500 hitting percentage.
Riley Lovell recorded her first career kill against USC Upstate.

UP NEXT
UAB looks to complete the weekend sweep tomorrow against North Alabama. The Lions split Friday at the Blazer Invitational with a strong 3-1 victory against Tennessee Tech before falling to USC Upstate 3-1 later in the day.