Alabama Volleyball Sweeps FIU in Georgia Tech Invitational
9/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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ATLANTA - The Alabama volleyball team closed out play at the 2002 Georgia Tech Invitational on Saturday with an impressive 3-0 (30-21, 34-32, 30-23) sweep of Florida International. The victory earned Bama the runner-up crown at the event.
With the win the Tide finishes their pre-conference slate with a 9-4 mark. FIU drops to 4-9 on the season with the loss.
"It was nice to see us play such a focused match," said UA head coach Judy Green. "This was by far are most consistent and complete passing and blocking match. When we control our passing as well as we did we are an extremely tough team to play."
The Crimson Tide used a 7-1 run, including five straight service points by Julie Farley, to take an early 9-3 advantage. Florida International worked their way back into the game tying the score at 14. After swapping points, Alabama broke the frame open with an 8-1 spurt featuring five more service points by Farley. A pair of Jennifer Bibber kills pushed UA to its largest lead, 26-18, as Bama closed with a flurry for the 30-21 win.
The two squads went back-and-forth in game two before the Tide took a slight 11-7 lead on kills by Bibber and Erin Price. Bama held its advantage until a seven-point run by the Panthers, that included three FIU blocks and several hitting errors by UA, put them behind 19-15. Alabama crept back into the game behind three blocks of their own that knotted the count at 20.
The teams traded points to 25 then FIU scored an ace that appeared to give them the edge they needed. Florida International served for the game three times but Bama fought those off eventually earning the win scoring the final three points for the 34-32 victory.
Game three was similar to the first two frames with neither team able to grab the early momentum. Alabama claimed its largest lead of the stanza, 16-8, following a 7-0 run on Bibber's serve. The Panthers refused to go away trimming the Bama lead to just three several times. FIU would get no closer as Heffner pounded out three of her 10 kills in the game down the stretch to guide Bama to the 30-23 final.
Heffner, named to the All-Tournament squad, finished the match with a season-high 24 kills followed by 15 by Bibber. The Tide got solid defense as no player reached double-digit digs but every player seeing action tallied at least two leading Bama to a 40-27 overall edge in digs. Farley led the UA frontline with four blocks while Kenna Milner handed out a near season-high 53 assists in setting the Tide to a .389 hitting percentage.
Florida International placed a pair of players in double figures with Adriana Fundora leading the way with 13 kills. Jennifer Owens led all players with seven blocks.
Alabama has nearly a week off from competition before opening up Southeastern Conference play with a pair of road matches next weekend versus Kentucky (Sept. 27) and South Carolina (Sept. 29).
Alabama (9-5) 30 34 30
Florida International (4-9) 21 32 23
