Bama Volleyball Falls to Michigan in Nebraska Tourney
9/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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LINCOLN, Neb. - The University of Alabama volleyball team (6-2) ran into a very solid Michigan squad (5-1) in the opening match of the U.S. Bank/Arby's Classic on Friday night and dropped a hard-fought 3-1 (30-22, 30-23, 28-30, 30-16) decision.
"We're going through some growing pains right now," said UA head coach Judy Green. "We are learning that we need to have sustained, consistent play in order to beat very good volleyball teams. We are starting to learn what it takes to win at this level of play."
The Tide got out of the blocks quickly taking an early 11-7 advantage. Following one of Bama's seven service errors in the first stanza, Michigan scored six straight points to take a lead (14-11) that they would never relinquish winning the game, 30-22. UA's offense struggled against a strong Wolverine frontline that tallied five team blocks in the frame.
Michigan kept its strong play up in the second game pushing out to an early advantage. UM widened its lead several times but the Crimson Tide answered each of those spurts. However, Alabama was unable to ever take a lead in the game and the Wolverines eventually push ahead for the win, 30-23, and a 2-0 advantage in the match. The Tide's offensive woes continued as Bama posted a -.024 hitting percentage in game two.
Alabama senior setter Bridget Studnicka, a native of nearby Clay Center, Neb., was inserted into the Tide lineup for game three and appeared to give the Tide a lift as Alabama took a quick lead. UA maintained its advantage until a five-point run by the Wolverines midway throughput them in front 19-15. The Tide fought back to knot the score at 19 only to see UM score the next three points to go back in front.
Again Bama battled back to tie the score and even climbed back into the lead 28-24 behind strong serving from Kory Tull and a pair of blocks by Julie Farley. Michigan trimmed the Bama lead to one, 29-28, but Erin Heffner closed the game out with a kill off the UM block to keep the match going. As a team the Tide tallied five blocks in the third game.
The Wolverines rebounded from their game three loss with a quick start in the fourth frame. Michigan opened up a double-digit margin (19-9) halfway through the final game and never looked back taking the match with a 30-16 victory. Alabama posted its second sub-par hitting performance of the match with a -.079 percentage in the deciding game.
For the match, Price led the Tide with a double-double finishing with 15 kills and 11 digs. Heffner also reached double figures posting 11 kills and a team-high 13 digs. Tull matched a career-best with 10 kills while Jennifer Bibber tallied 10 digs for Bama. Price and Farley led the Tide frontline with five blocks each.
Michigan had five players with double-figure kills led by 13 from Jennifer Gandolph. The Wolverines outhit the Tide .240 to .087 and won the battle at the net by 7.5 blocks (19.5 - 12.0). UM also outdug UA, 63-52.
Alabama returns to action at the US Bank/Arby's Classic on Saturday with a pair of matches versus nationally ranked opponents. The Tide meet No. 4 Nebraska at 10 a.m. and then play No. 22 Santa Clara at 7 p.m.
Alabama (6-2) 22 23 30 16
Michigan (5-1) 30 30 28 30
