Tide Volleyball Team to Host Annual Reception
4/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The Alabama volleyball team is preparing to host its annual reception, scheduled this year for Saturday, April 28 at 2:00 p.m. in Alumni Hall on the campus of the University of Alabama. Members of the public are invited to attend with the purchase of tickets, which are set at $10.
The Crimson Tide logged yet another successful season in 2006 under the direction of head coach Judy Green. Alabama posted its second consecutive NCAA Tournament berth following a regular season that saw the Tide defeat two top-20 opponents and finish with a 17-13 overall record and a 12-8 mark in the SEC. The 12 wins in the league were the most for any team in school history.
The Tide defeated No. 10 LSU on Oct. 8, marking the highest-ranked team to fall to UA in program history, and the 2006 Alabama unit earned just the third win over Arkansas in school history with a 3-0 sweep over the Hogs on Oct. 6.
Alabama was nearly unstoppable on its home floor, posting a 13-3 mark in Tuscaloosa on the season. Its only losses in the CAVE came to Miami in the season opener, to eventual NCAA Tournament participant UW-Milwaukee in late September and to perennial SEC powerhouse Florida in a hard-fought match on Oct. 29.
Headlining the Tide’s accomplishments in 2006 was standout junior Crystal Hudson, who had one of the best individual seasons of any player in the SEC. Hudson, from Hueytown, earned honorable mention All-American honors and first team All-SEC accolades after dominating the net at the middle blocker position.
A two-time SEC Player of the Week, Hudson finished her season with 1,089 career kills, moving her into the top 10 in Alabama annals. She is also currently 10th in total attempts and owns the third best career hitting percentage in UA history with her .333 total after three seasons. She is also in the top 10 in both block solos and block assists.
Her .384 hitting percentage a season ago was fourth-best in single season history at the Capstone, while her 108 block assists was seventh highest.
Joining Hudson on the league’s postseason team was teammate Bridget Fuentez, an outside hitter from Tomball, Texas. Fuentez earned second team all-SEC honors for the second straight year after finishing second on the squad to Hudson in kills with 405. Fuentez led the squad in total attempts and also finished second on the team in digs with 295.
Brigitte Slack, the team’s setter, has also quietly put herself among the all-time leaders at Alabama. Slack tallied 1,337 assists as a junior and currently stands in third place on the career charts, just 63 shy of second place in UA history.
Alabama lost two seniors from last year’s team, including middle blocker Rachael Green and outside hitter Abbi Blackburn. The Tide returns seven players who started a match at one point in 2006 next season.
The reception is scheduled to last from 2-4 p.m. at Alumni Hall. Any questions may be directed to Angie Mlinar at the Alabama volleyball office at (205) 348-7059.
