Spring Success Continues for Crimson Tide Volleyball
3/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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TUSCALOOSA – The Crimson Tide volleyball team recorded a 7-1 record this past weekend at the Duke Spring Invitational in Durham, N.C., to continue their successful spring scrimmage campaign.
The tournament format consisted of two 30 point games per match and the field included Alabama, Duke, South Carolina, Charlotte and a USAV Open Team made up of former players from the area.
Alabama posted 2-0 sweeps in their first three matches before splitting its games against the host Blue Devils. The Tide’s on-court success was even more impressive due to the fact that starting setter Kenna Milner missed practice last week with flu-like symptoms. Rising senior Erin Price, an outside hitter by trade, even played setter in a pair of games leading UA to victories in both.
“I felt like our timing and chemistry would be a little off because of Kenna’s illness during the week of practice,” said UA head coach Judy Green. “We also took a couple of days off last week to let our players get healthy and recharged. I was impressed with our defensive intensity and our ability to stay patient and focused in challenging situations. Several times during the weekend we came from behind in a match using our composure, maturity and determination to turn the momentum in our favor. I have been very proud of our effort and character.”
In match one against the USAV Open Team, Alabama won both games of the match by the score of 30-22. Jennifer Bibber was the leading attacker with 13 kills and Price played her first game as full-time setter handing out 12 assists. Against Charlotte, UA captured the win 30-28 and 30-28 behind 12 kills from Kory Tull and 11 by Kelley Potter. Both Tide hitters connected at over a .500 hitting percentage clip for the match. Redshirt Jennifer Cusimano recorded six digs in the contest.
Alabama earned a 30-27, 31-29 victory over SEC rival South Carolina in the third match of the tournament, coming back from a 19-10 deficit in game two for the win. Erin Heffner led the way for the Tide with 10 kills and eight digs against the Lady Gamecocks. Price tallied 12 digs and five blocks for UA while Tull had nine kills. Milner handed out 27 assists in the match that saw the Tide finish with 14 team blocks.
Versus Duke in the event’s final match, Alabama dropped game one 26-30 but rallied for a 30-22 win in game two to earn the match split. The team hit an impressive .329 for the match as Price played her second game at setter. Price finished with seven assists, five kills and seven digs against the Blue Devils. Heffer led the squad with seven kills followed by six from Potter. Julie Farley recorded three kills and two block solos at the net for the Tide.
The Crimson Tide concludes their spring season slate this Saturday (Mar. 29) by hosting the University of Alabama Spring Tournament. The Spring Tournament begins at 9 a.m. and features a field of teams from around the area. Alabama plays Memphis at 10:30 a.m., Ole Miss at noon and closes the day at 3 p.m. versus Southern Mississippi.
