Crimson Tide Volleyball Earns 3-1 Win Over South Carolina
11/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
TUSCALOOSA ?? After playing on the road against some of the hottest teams in the Southeastern Conference the last two weekends, the University of Alabama volleyball team was happy to be home. The Tide dropped the first game to visiting South Carolina, but rebounded to take three straight and the match in the CAVE on Friday night.
“I think that South Carolina was just more fired up and ready to play at the beginning of the match,” said head coach Judy Green. “They have probably been the hottest team in the league over the past few matches, with wins over Kentucky and Tennessee. We knew we were going to get their best shot.”
The Tide, who hit just .087 in the opening frame, stormed back on the offensive end behind junior Crystal Hudson, who continued to lead the Tide offense. Hudson pounded 19 kills on 43 attempts and hit over .300 for the 2nd time in 28 matches this season.
Hudson’s offensive performance sparked the Tide, as Alabama put up side-out percentages of 69 percent, 71 percent and 68 percent in games two, three and four. The Tide won game two, 30-25, captured a 30-21 game-three decision and closed the Gamecocks out with a 30-24 win in game four.
Also turning in another solid performance for her team was Bridget Fuentez. Fuentez, who missed last weekend’s matches with an injury, pounded 14 kills and racked up 16 digs, giving her the 13th double-double of her season.
Brooks Webster was the other Tide player in double figures in kills, as the redshirt freshman put down 10 from the outside hitter position.
Just as big as the offensive numbers were, it was the defensive effort by Alabama that led the way. The Tide held All-American candidate Shondra Cole, who averages over five kills per game this season, to a .046 hitting percentage.
“When Cole took that first swing and Amy Pauly dug it, I think that really set the tone for us,” said Green. “Cole has just been teeing off on people, so I think that really helped us. I was really proud of our defensive effort.”
Four Alabama players turned in double-figure efforts on the defense, led by two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Week Pauly. The Burr Ridge, Ill, native,who set the school record in digs in a match earlier this season, had 26 tonight,a match high.
The Tide finished with 85 digs and 15.5 team blocks. South Carolina had just six blocks to its credit.
In addition to Pauly, Megan Hudson chipped in with 13 digs, while Sarah Snider had 10. Senior Rachael Green led Alabama with eight block assists and Hudson and true freshman Liz Salstrand had five block assists each.
Alabama returns to its home court on Sunday, Nov. 19, in the regular-season finale against Georgia. First serve is set for 1:30 p.m. Alabama honors its two seniors following the match against the Bulldogs.
