Tide Rolls Over Ball State in Nightcap of Bama Bash
9/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
TUSCALOOSA ?? It’s just the second weekend of the 2006 season, but already Alabama has avenged two of its 11 losses in 2005, as the Tide easily moved past Ball State, 3-0, in the nightcap of the Hampton Inn Bama Bash in the CAVE this evening.
Alabama won the first two games by identical 30-25 margins and put away the BSU with a convincing 30-15 decision in the final frame.
“I thought it was probably our best passing and serving match of the season,” head coach Judy Green said. “I was just really proud that we were able to sustain a very consistent effort for three games tonight.”
Last weekend, it was Kansas on the receiving end of some Tide revenge. Tonight, it was the Cardinals. Ball State, who handed Alabama one of its most disappointing losses a season ago when it outlasted the Tide in a 3-2 thriller in Muncie in the regular season finale, played tough with Alabama, but was unable to match the 1-2-3 punch of the powerful Tide hitters in the sweep.
The Tide offensive attack was fueled by some more outstanding efforts by stalwarts Crystal Hudson and Bridget Fuentez, as well as some of the best play of the season by a relative newcomer, Brooks Webster.
The trio helped the Tide compile a .342 to .202 hitting percentage advantage at the net, which was the decisive factor in the outcome of the match.
Webster, a redshirt freshman from Baltimore, Md., had the best match of her young career, setting a new high with 13 kills. She added a pair of block assists to the defensive effort as well. More importantly, Webster proved her mettle in the clutch, as Alabama went to her for kills in several key points in close scores in games one and two.
“I thought Brooks played with a lot of poise,” Green said. “I was really proud to see her come back and have a good match after this morning. She did a nice job of taking care of the ball and scored on what the defense gave her.”
A second team All-SEC performer last season, Fuentez continued to show that she will be a force to reckon with once again in 2006. Earlier in the afternoon, Fuentez pounded a season-high 19 kills to lead the Tide to an easy win over Mercer. She came right back in the evening match by slamming 12 kills and 10 digs, notching her second double-double of the day.
“I just think that Bridget is playing really well right now all-around,” Green said. “She is in control of her game. I like how she has grown up as a player and you can tell she feels good about where she is at. She is playing like a complete volleyball player.”
Hudson continued to demonstrate her abilities in the win over Ball State, with several show-stopping kills among her 13 on the night. Hudson hit .370 for the match and is hitting .314 for the year. She also notched nine digs on the defensive side of the ball.
Record-setting setter Brigitte Slack is also off to an outstanding pace, as she directed the Tide offense flawlessly throughout the match. Slack had 43 assists to go with seven digs and four kills.
Another promising young player who put in a solid performance for the Tide was true freshman Liz Salstrand. Salstrand pounded six kills on eight attempts, logging a .625 hitting percentage for the match. She also tallied three assists and a pair of block assists.
“Liz has been very consistent,” Green said. “We are asking her to do just enough that she is confident in that amount, but as she plays more and more, we will continue to ask her to do a little more. Right now, she is doing a good job blocking and is scoring on the limited number of balls that she’s seen offensively.”
Libero Amy Pauly was outstanding on the defensive end for Alabama, as she dug out 13 balls.
Alabama will play its final match of the 2006 Hampton Inn Bama Bash at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Saturday in the CAVE when it faces UW-Milwaukee. The Panthers are also 2-0 for the weekend, having beaten Mercer and Ball State in 3-0 decisions. Admission to all matches is free throughout the weekend.
