Tide Volleyball Team Looks to Extend SEC Win Streak
10/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
TUSCALOOSA ?? The University of Alabama volleyball team, coming off of one of the most successful weekends in program history, looks to continue a four-match SEC winning streak when the Tide welcomes Kentucky and No. 18 Tennessee into the CAVE for a pair of league matches this weekend.
"Our team is coming off of a great weekend, but we must avoid becoming complacent," head coach Judy Green said. "Our goal is to come in and improve our out-of-system play and our sideout offense. We have made strides each week, but it is our responsibility as coaches to keep our team focused on those improvements."
Alabama will face Kentucky, one of the most improved teams in the SEC over the past two seasons, on Friday night at 7 p.m. The Wildcats are on a three-match win streak of their own, including an exciting win over Tennessee in Lexington on Wednesday night.
Kentucky is led by middle blocker Nicole Britenriker, who averages 3.97 kills per game for the 12-5 Wildcats. Ashlee Fisher averages 3.38 kills for UK, while setter Sarah Rumely is averaging 12.47 assists per game. Jenni Casper, a defensive specialist/libero, digs out 4.28 balls per game for head coach Craig Skinner.
"Kentucky is an athletic, well-coached and disciplined team," Green said. "They are led by a great middle blocker in Britenriker and their libero Casper, who is one of the best defensive players in the nation. We will need to be more disciplined than we were last weekend, especially on defense, to win against them."
The match on Friday will feature the 2000 Alabama volleyball team that won the school's first SEC Western Division title. The first 250 fans will receive pictures of the team and some players from that record-setting unit will be available to sign autographs between games two and three of the Tide-Wildcat matchup.
Alabama's weekend continues on Sunday when the Tide plays host to No. 18 Tennessee. The Lady Vols own a 15-4 mark and a 6-3 record in the league after the five-game loss to UK on Wednesday night. Despite the loss, Tennessee has been winners of seven of its last nine matches, with the only losses to Florida and Kentucky.
The Lady Vols are led by outside hitter Yuliya Stoyanova, who averages 3.87 kills per game. Kelsey Fautsch averages 3.54 kills per game and setter Chelsea Noble dishes out 11.73 assists per game. Tennessee is also a great blocking unit, averaging 3.28 blocks per game as a team this season.
"Tennessee is another well-skilled volleyball team with a good blend of athleticism," Green said. "They know how to win and win big, coming off of their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Final Four. We know we will have to match their ball control in order to be successful."
First serve for the match between the Tide and the Lady Vols is slated for 1:30 p.m. in the CAVE. The first 300 fans in attendance at the match versus UT will receive a free Alabama volleyball.
"We know we have to continue to play well at home, because we only get one shot at these teams in the CAVE," Green said. "We hope our fans keep coming in droves, as they did last weekend, to help us fight for some more wins."
Both matches will be shown live on WVUA-TV and will be broadcast on the radio by The Capstone, 90.7 FM and on the station's web site, www.newrock907.com.
