Tide Volleyball Set to Host the Bama Bash
9/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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After taking to the road for its first two matches of the 2005 season, the Alabama Volleyball team rips into its home slate with the annual Hampton Inn Bama Bash tournament Sept. 2-3. The Tide, 20-4 all-time in home openers, rides a seven year streak into this year's initial match in the CAVE.
"Anytime you play at home is exciting," Alabama head coach Judy Green said. "The players are excited to give a sneak preview of what the fans have to look forward to this season."
The Tide, champions of the 2003 and 2004 Bama Bash, also rides a six game winning streak in the event. Oklahoma, Indiana and Loyola (Chi.) make up the rest of the 2005 Bama Bash field.
Action gets underway with Indiana facing Oklahoma Friday at 10 a.m. while the Tide goes to work at 12:30 p.m. against Loyola. It will be the first ever meeting between the two schools. For its second match of the day, Alabama faces Indiana at 7 p.m. The Tide defeated IU last season and holds a 3-1 all-time record against the Hoosiers. The Tide's Saturday meeting with the Sooners will be the first in the modern era (post 1988) of Alabama volleyball. UA defeated OU twice in 1979.
"I think part of developing your program is that you get to attract better opponents to your tournaments," Green said. "This weekend we have a Big Ten school in Indiana, a Big Twelve school in Oklahoma and a team from the Horizon League in Loyola."
All three participants should bring a different look to the floor.
"Indiana is a younger team this season with 10 freshmen," Green said. "Oklahoma is in its second year under a very good head coach, Santiago Restrepo, and I expect them to be much improved. With Oklahoma and Indiana you know you will get a high caliber of volleyball because both are in conferences that routinely put six and seven teams in the NCAA tournament every year. Loyola defeated Illinois last season when Illinois was ranked in the top 20. Loyola is smaller and speedy. I expect them to have great ball control. I think we match up with all three teams and I think it will be a shootout."
Oklahoma comes to the Capstone with a 1-0 record after defeating TCU 3-1 last weekend in Fort Worth, Texas. The Sooners are led by Joanna Schmitt, Anna Stadel and Rachel Jackson. Schmitt and Stadel posted 18 and 13 kills respectively, while Jackson set the duo with 40 assists.
The Hoosiers are 1-1 heading into the weekend. Indiana defeated Indiana State 3-0 but lost to Western Kentucky 3-2. Erica Short and Rachel Gerling pace the Hoosiers with 3.50 and 3.38 kills per game. Defensively, Annie Moddrell recorded 16 blocks in eight games last weekend.
This weekend will mark the season opener for Loyola (Chi.). The Ramblers were a NCAA Tournament participant a year ago with a 22-9 record. They are guided this year by first year head coach Marcie Bomhack.
As for the Tide, their opening weekend saw them split two matches Lawrence, Kansas. Alabama fell to Kansas 3-0 on Friday but swept Missouri-Kansas City 3-0 on Saturday. The Tide is led by Crystal Hudson and Bridget Fuentez offensively. Fuentez posted a team best 22 kills last weekend followed by 21 from Hudson.
Fuentez also was a key defensively, digging 20 attacks, good for second on the squad behind Jessica Yearout's 27. Brigitte Slack had 84 set assists in the two contests.
Green expects the fans to turn out to her squad.
"The fans are our seventh man in volleyball," Green said. "I think that the fans got really excited by what they saw last year and I hope that each of them comes back and brings a friend with them. I also encourage our athletic staff, coaches and teams to come out and support us. There will be a lot of volleyball going on this weekend, and I expect the CAVE to be rocking."
Admission to the Bama Bash is free. Live stats will be available at www.rolltide.com. Live radio broadcasts of the Tide's Friday matches can be heard on WVUA 90.7 FM in the Tuscaloosa area and at www.newrock907.com online.
Friday, September 2
10:00 am - Indiana vs. Oklahoma
12:30 pm - Loyola (Chicago) vs. ALABAMA
4:30 pm - Oklahoma vs. Loyola (Chicago)
7:00 pm - ALABAMA vs. Indiana
Saturday, September 3
11:00 am - Indiana vs. Loyola (Chicago)
1:30 pm - Oklahoma vs. ALABAMA
