Tide Volleyball Closes Regular Season with Win Over Georgia
11/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
TUSCALOOSA ?? The University of Alabama volleyball team returned to the CAVE on Sunday afternoon and defeated the Georgia Bulldogs, 3-0, to end the 2006 regular season. The Tide overturned Georgia with scores of 30-24, 30-25 and 30-22.
“I’m glad right now that we finished our regular season SEC play with a 3-0 win, which we haven’t had one of in a really long time,” said head coach Judy Green. “We are just looking forward to getting them back into the gym and getting better, and hopefully preparing for the postseason.”
The Tide has been one of the toughest home teams to battle in the SEC this season, possessing a 12-3 mark overall at home and an 8-1 record in the CAVE against league opponents. Alabama finished the final game of the season with four players in double figures in the kill column and as a team recorded nine service aces.
With 14 kills was junior Bridget Fuentez, while teammate Brooks Webster recorded 12 kills to help the Tide. Notching 11 kills apiece were senior Rachael Green and junior Crystal Hudson. Amy Pauly lead the Tide in digs with 16, while junior setter Brigette Slack racked up a double-double with 44 assists and 11 digs. She also finished just three kills shy of reaching a triple-double with seven kills.
Georgia, with a record of 6-24 on the season and 2-18 in conference play, was lead by outside hitter Maria Taylor who finished the afternoon with a double-double in digs and kills, 11 and 17, respectfully. Bulldog setter, Chelsea Young earned 29 assists, while libero Brooke Burlingame finished with 22 digs.
“I thought Georgia played well today,” said Green. “It’s a team that has not had a whole lot of success this year, but those kids never gave up today. They outplayed us on defense and they out dug us as well.”
The Sunday afternoon match not only closed out the regular season for the Tide, but was also Alabama’s Senior Day, where seniors Green and Abbi Blackburn were honored for their years with Tide volleyball.
“Both of these kids have meant a tremendous amount to our program. Rachel has been more of a contributor on the court. She has been an absolutely fabulous leader for our team this year and I couldn’t have asked anybody to do more than she’s done,” said Green. “And Abbi has probably been one of the most flexible players that we’ve had here because she’s been asked to play a lot of different positions and perform in a lot of different roles and I think she’s done that very well.”
The NCAA will select the 64-team field for the 2006 NCAA Volleyball Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 26.
