Volleyball Wins Bama Bash in Record Fashion
9/3/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
 |
|
The Alabama volleyball team defeated Oklahoma 3-0 (30-19, 30-26, 30-6) to win the 2005 Hampton Inn Bama Bash tournament Saturday afternoon at the CAVE. The Crimson Tide (4-1) broke the school record for hitting percentage in a match, converting 55 of its 88 attack attempts with just four errors for a .580 mark to break the old record of .551 set in 1990.
"This was a total team effort," said Alabama head coach Judy Green. "I'm really proud of how we came out and started the match and remained emotionally consistent throughout."
The tournament championship marks the third straight season that the Tide has captured the Bama Bash title. UA has now won nine straight matches in the event.
"It always means more when you are at home," Green said. "The crowd, both last night and today, was great and they helped us out. It's a salute to how hard our team has been working. This is just the beginning for us."
For the second straight day Kelley Potter paced the Tide, chalking up a team best 14 kills against OU. The Edgewood, Ky. native had a career weekend, racking up 39 kills in the Bama Bash as well as setting a school record Friday with a .917 hitting percentage against Loyola (Chi.). The senior had a .679 hitting percentage for the weekend and collected MVP honors for the tourney.
Brigitte Slack, who assisted in most of Potter's kills over the weekend, handed out 41 assists in the Tide's record setting day. The sophomore from Indiana averaged 14.89 assists per game over the weekend to earn all-tournament team honors. Green lauded both Potter and Slack for the Tide's big weekend.
"Kelley Potter was nothing short of amazing," Green said. "She was in a major hitting zone with Brigitte Slack this weekend."
Also earning all-tournament team honors for UA was Jessica Yearout who averaged 4.56 digs per game over the two day-three match event. Crystal Hudson also had a big day against the Sooners, tying the record set by Potter just yesterday converting kills on 11 of 12 attacks for a .917 percentage.
Oklahoma, which fell to 3-1 on the season, was led by Anna Stadell and Sarah Weiland who had 10 kills each. In the other game of the tourney's final day, Indiana defeated Loyola (Chi.) 3-1. Rachel Gerling and Mandy Eberle led the Hoosiers with 15 and 11 kills respectively. Hilary Stromath paced the Ramblers with 19 kills.
The Tide returns to action Tuesday night against South Alabama in Mobile. The game will be broadcast in the Tuscaloosa area on WVUA 90.7 FM. Fans outside of the Tuscaloosa area can tune in on the internet at www.newrock907.com.
2005 Hampton Inn Bama Bash All-Tournament Team
Kelley Potter, Alabama — MVP
Brigitte Slack, Alabama
Jessica Yearout, Alabama
Sarah Elmer, Loyola (Chi.)
Joanna Schmitt, Oklahoma
Annie Moddrell, Indiana
Rachel Gerling, Indiana
