UAB Fends Off North Alabama Comeback

Saturday, September 6

Birmingham, AL

3:00 p.m.

UAB

4-2,0-0American

UNA

3-4,0-0ASUN

North Ala.

UAB

UAB Fends Off North Alabama Comeback

9/6/2025 7:23:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB Volleyball defeated in-state rivals North Alabama 3-2. The Blazers took a two-set lead, completing four-point comebacks in each set. The Lions battled back to force a fifth set, however, a dominant start to the fifth set carried the Blazers to the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED
North Alabama jumped out to an 8-5 lead in the first set thanks to a four-point run, holding the lead until halfway through the set. UAB would return the favor, taking a 16-15 lead with a four-point run, however, a second four-point streak from North Alabama erased the Blazer lead. Down 21-18, UAB took back momentum after a timeout, winning seven of the last eight points in the set, winning 25-22.

The UAB offense caught fire in the second set, hitting .419 with 14 kills and just one error. Abby Jones led the Blazers with five kills on 10 errorless attempts. Mia Reese also hit .500 in the set with four kills on eight attempts. Despite UAB's offensive power, North Alabama took an 11-7 lead following a four-point run from the Lions. North Alabama then found themselves up 21-16 after the Blazers' only attack error of the set. An eight-point run turned the set on its head with three kills from Jones plus four North Alabama errors. Jorda Crook wrapped up the 25-23 set victory with her eighth kill of the match.

Neither team was able to pull far ahead in the third set, with a three-point North Alabama lead being the largest until late in the set. Up 20-18, the Lions went on a four-point run to reach set point. North Alabama was able to put the set away two points later. With 10 attack errors in the set, the third frame was easily the worst offensively for UAB. Six additional errors between serving and receiving led to the 25-20 set win for North Alabama.

UAB began to pull away in the fourth set with a four-point run to take a 16-12 lead. North Alabama quickly responded with a 5-1 run to tie. UAB and North Alabama traded another set of runs before the Lions finished the set on a 4-1 run to win 25-23.

Four kills by Crook and three North Alabama errors put UAB up 7-1 to start the fifth set. North Alabama slowly chipped away at the Blazer lead, but the early lead proved to be too much for North Alabama. Lion errors score the final four points for UAB, totaling eight errors in the set by North Alabama.

STANDOUTS
Crook notched her second 20-kill match of the year with 23 kills on 51 attempts, hitting .294. Crook added an ace and two blocks to her double-double performance with 11 digs.

Annastiina Tarkkanen also recorded a double-double with her 38 assists and 10 digs.

Reese's 16 kills were the second most for the Blazers. The junior hit .297 with a pair of blocks while also being perfect with 19 receptions.

Addyson Smock and Summer Snead were efficient on both sides of the net. Smock recorded seven kills and a team-high five blocks. Snead hit .625 with six kills on eight attacks with four total blocks.

NOTABLES

UAB's 61 kills were the most in a match this season.
Tarkkanen set career-highs with 38 assists and 10 digs, notching her first-career double-double
Tarkkanen's 38 assists are the most by a Blazer this season.
Smock set a new career-high with seven kills.
Snead tied her career-high mark from Friday with six kills.
Jones tied her career high with three blocks.

UP NEXT
UAB hits the road for its only non-conference tournament outside of the state of Alabama. The Blazers will go to Evansville, Ind., for three matches at Meeks Family Fieldhouse. Along with hosts Evansville, UAB will take on Western Illinois and Morehead State on Sept. 12 and 13.