Tide Gets Record Win Over Birmingham-Southern
9/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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TUSCALOOSA - With a 3-0 (30-21, 30-20, 30-26) sweep over in-state foe Birmingham-Southern, the 2004 edition of Alabama Volleyball etched their name in Tide history with the best start to a season.
The Tide, who improved to 7-0 with the victory, have now won the most matches to start a season since volleyball returned to the Capstone in 1989. The win over Birmingham-Southern (4-3) also marks Alabama's 20th consecutive victory over an in-state opponent.
"It feels great to start the season undefeated," said UA head coach Judy Green. "The kids have worked extremely hard and it is starting to pay off for them. We had another great night on offense. Things are really starting to click for us right now. We still have some things to work on though and that's what keeps us coming back."
The Crimson Tide dominated the match from the start as Alabama trailed just once, 10-9 in game three, the whole match. Senior outside hitter Erin Heffner again had a huge night on offense hitting .676 and finishing with 26 kills. As a team, the Tide recorded a season-best .402 hitting percentage with a trio of players topping the .500 mark. In addition to Heffner, senior Julie Farley (.643) and freshman Crystal Hudson (.750) also connected at a high rate.
Defensively, Alabama out-blocked (7-3) and out-dug (42-29) the Panthers. Junior libero Jessica Yearout paced the Tide with 15 digs, giving her over 1,000 for her career. Sophomore Abbi Blackburn recorded a career-best 10 digs.
Game one saw the Tide take an early advantage and then cruise to the 30-21 win. Heffner recorded nine kills in the frame followed by six from Hudson. It was more of the same in the second stanza with Heffner notching seven more kills. Yearout also recorded her 1,000th dig early in the game.
Green substituted liberally in the final game as several freshmen, including Megan Hudson and Bridget Fuentez saw extended action for the Tide. Megan Hudson finished with 15 assists in just one game while Fuentez recorded three kills in front row action. Sophomore Katie Barker also made her season debut for the Tide in the second game.
Rachel Malmborg led the Panther offense with 10 kills on the night followed by Jana Smelley, a native of Tuscaloosa, with nine. Lindsey Herzog was BSC's top defender tallying nine digs.
The Crimson Tide returns to the road in hopes of extending their win streak this weekend with a trip to Bloomington, Ind., to participate in the TIS Bookstore Invitational. Alabama opens up tournament action on Friday night against host Indiana at 7 p.m. On Saturday, UA squares off against Pitt at 10 a.m. then closes the day at 5 p.m. versus Kent State.
PHOTO GALLERY
Abbi Blackburn and Julie Farley go up to block the spike.
(Photo by Michelle Lepianka)
The celebrity server talks to Coach Green.
(Photo by Dusty Compton)
Bridget Fuentez returns the serve.
(Photo by Dusty Compton)
Megan Hudson sets up the ball.
(Photo by Dusty Compton)
Coach Chris Redding talks to the team during a timeout.
(Photo by Dusty Compton)
Coaches Chris Redding and Erich Hinterstocker go over the gameplan.
(Photo by Michelle Lepianka)
