Bama Volleyball Falls to Georgia in SEC Tourney Opener
11/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The University of Alabama volleyball team battled to the very last point but in the end came up just short as the Tide suffered a heart-breaking 3-2 (30-26, 30-26, 19-30, 21-30, 14-16) loss to Georgia in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference Championship Tournament on Friday.
The Crimson Tide (20-8), seeded No. 4 at the league's postseason event, grabbed an early 2-0 lead against the fifth-seeded Bulldogs (18-9) only to see UGA roar back with back-to-back wins to force a fifth and deciding game. The two squads battled toe-to-toe in the final game before Georgia was able to earn the two-point margin for the win.
The loss snapped Alabama's four match win streak and also marked the Tide's first opening round defeat since the 2000 SEC Tournament. Alabama is now 7-15 all-time in the SEC Tourney and falls to 0-13 all-time in Gainesville, Fla., including an 0-3 mark in the league championship event.
"First of all I want to say what a great and amazing volleyball match this was today," said UA head coach Judy Green. "I am so proud of how our kids did what we asked of them from the start. Georgia made plays when they needed to and that proved to be the difference. I liked the way we battled back especially in the fifth game. It was just a matter of a bounce here or there in the final outcome. Overall, I am extremely pleased with how our team played all year."
Senior All-American candidate and All-SEC first team outside hitter Erin Heffner led a trio of Tide hitters in double digits finishing with 26 kills. Freshman Bridget Fuentez posted a career best 17 kills followed by 12 from All-SEC second team selection Julie Farley.
Heffner and junior Jessica Yearout shared team defensive honors with both players tallying 16 digs on the day. Senior Kory Tull also posted double digits finishing the match with a season high 14 digs. Potter topped the Tide with three blocks while Farley recorded two block assists to gain sole possession of Alabama's career block assist top spot with 359.
Georgia's All-SEC middle blocker Alexandra Oquendo was the difference for the Bulldogs as the senior finished with 31 kills and five blocks. Oquendo hit .612 for the contest committing just one hitting error in 49 attempts. UGA's back row defense also had a solid performance as a pair of Bulldogs' recorded over 20 digs with Meagan Welch having 24 and Martina Wagner adding 21.
With the win, Georgia advances to Saturday's semifinal match versus top-seeded Florida at 4 p.m. (ET). In the other semifinal, No. 2 Tennessee takes on No. 3 Arkansas at 2 p.m. (ET). In other action at the SEC Tournament on Friday, Tennessee opened the day with a 3-1 win over Auburn followed by Arkansas' 3-2 victory over LSU. Georgia topped Alabama and then Florida swept South Carolina, 3-0, in the final match of the opening day.
Alabama will conclude its schedule next weekend with a pair of matches against Houston (Nov. 26) and Tulane (Nov. 27) in Baton Rouge, La., as part of the SEC/C-USA Challenge. The 64-team field for the NCAA Tournament will be announced next Sunday, Nov. 28, live on ESPN.
