Alabama Volleyball Notches Come from Behind Win at USC
10/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The Alabama volleyball team came back from a two-game deficit at South Carolina Sunday to win its second consecutive Southeastern Conference road match.
Alabama lost the first game 28-30 and the second 30-32. The Crimson Tide kept at it though, winning the next two games with matching 30-24 scores. In the deciding frame, Alabama was in control from the outset, winning 15-8.
“This was the best and most balanced match that we have had as a team this season,” Alabama head coach Judy Green said. “The character that we showed to come back after being down two games on the road was very impressive.”
Alabama improved its hitting every game of the match, hitting .375 in the tiebreaker. The Tide also managed to disrupt the Gamecocks attack over the last three games.
“I was proud of our coaching staff,” Green said. “We made a couple of small defensive adjustments that went a long way toward helping us today.”
Junior Bridget Fuentez had a team-best 20 kills while redshirt freshman Brooks Webster turned in 18 kills and hit .304.
“I was very proud of the way Brooks and Bridget played together today,” Green said. “It was their best match of the season as outside hitters.”
Junior Crystal Hudson turned in 16 kills and hit for .400 as well as notching four block assists. Sophomore Megan Hudson had yet another stellar outing on defense, turning in 19 digs.
“Megan has been outstanding on the defensive side of the ball as well as with her serving,” Green said. “She was a big reason we won Friday night at Georgia and she was huge for us again today.”
After dropping back-to-back SEC matches at Auburn and Florida, the Tide has upped its game across the board, pulling themselves to .500 against the SEC on the road. Alabama is now 9-6 overall and 4-2 in the league. South Carolina falls to 10-7 and 3-3 in the SEC.
“It was a total team effort today, we were well balanced on offense and we sided-out at almost 65 percent on the defensive side of the ball,” Green said. “We are now .500 on the road in the SEC and we are looking forward to hosting four very good volleyball teams over the next two weeks.”
Up next, Alabama faces off against Arkansas Friday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. in a match that will be televised on Fox Sport Net followed by a Sunday match against LSU at 1:30 p.m.
