Bama Volleyball Sweeps Tennessee in Conference Opener
9/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- The University of Alabama volleyball team dominated Tennessee tonight at the Stokely Athletic Center in Knoxville, Tenn. The Crimson Tide swept the Lady Vols, 3-0, improving to 4-6 and 1-0 in the conference. Alabama is the first team to beat Tennessee at home this season.
"Winning the first game was huge for our team," said Alabama head coach Judy Green. The game could have gone either way and the difference was that we played out of system volleyball better."
All-American Crystal Hudson led the offensive front for the Tide, tallying a team high 12 kills and a match high .480 hitting percentage. Libero Amy Pauly led all players with 25 digs with Bridget Fuentez and Brooks Webster adding 16 and 14 digs. Webster's 14 digs set a new career high for the sophomore in that catagory. Sophomore Liz Salstrand made her debut back in the Tide lineup tonight as she contributed five kills on 13 attempts for a .308 hitting percentage.
The Tide had four opportunities to close out game one but Tennessee fought back and had game point at 31-30. Alabama rallied back and secured game one on a kill from Hudson. Hudson was almost perfect in the game, hitting .857 with six kills on seven attempts.
Alabama jumped out to a quick lead over Tennessee in game two and held that lead for the entire game. The Tide had a six point lead over the Vols late in the game, 27-21, and the Lady Vols could not make up the deficit. A kill by Brigitte Slack gave Alabama game point and the Tide took the game the next play. Pauly tallied 11 digs in the victory and Fuentez added five kills.
Game three was dominated by the Tide, as Alabama sprung out to a 5-0 lead before Tennessee scored its first point of the game. Alabama's biggest lead of the game came off freshman Mary Catherine Aune's serve at the end of the game. Following a Tennessee timeout, the Tide went on a seven point run with Aune behind the line. Aune ended the game and the match on her second ace of the night.
"We got better swings and we put the ball in good spots," said Green. "We practiced hard this week and we have been trying to work on the continuity of our offense. I am proud of our team for hitting .210 and I think Brigitte Slack did a great job tonight. She made great decisions and got her hitters in a one-on-one spot and made herself accountable to the other team by dumping the ball. We passed well and it was a good team effort all around."
Alabama heads to Lexington, Ky. tonight as the team prepares for Kentucky on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Live stats for the match are available at www.rolltide.com.
