Bama Volleyball Sweeps Arkansas in Conference Home Opener
9/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- The University of Alabama volleyball team extended its winning streak to four matches today after defeating Arkansas, 30-23, 30-25, 30-23, in its conference home opener at the CAVE. With the win, the Crimson Tide improved to 7-6 overall and 4-0 in the SEC while Arkansas dropped to 6-8 overall and 0-4 in the SEC.
Alabama is off to its best conference start since head coach Judy Green inhereted the program in 1996. The four-match winning streak is the longest conference winning streak since the Western Division championship squad went on a five-match streak in 2000. Tonight's victory also marks only the fourth time since the series inception that an Alabama squad has defeated an Arkansas squad.
"I thought we controlled the pace of the match both offensively and defensively," said Green. "In each game we were able to put together strings of point runs mainly behind Mary Catherine Aune's serve and Brigitte Slack's serve. I liked our poise today against a team we have now only beaten three times in the last twelve years."
The Tide put on an offensive show in front of a boisterous home crowd today as Alabama's two middle blockers hit over .400. Junior Lindsey Buteyn led all players with a .500 hitting percentage while All-American Crystal Hudson hit .438.
The Tide outperformed Arkansas in almost every category en route to Alabama's first home victory of the season.
"I am most proud of how we fought to close out the match in three games," said Green. "We have been talking about our "team fight" and we showed it again today. We wanted to prove to ourselves that the CAVE is still our place and we will defend it to the bitter end. I am happy the fans got to see such a great team performance."
Alabama returns to action next week as they host South Carolina Friday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m. followed by No. 6 Florida Sunday, September 30 at 1:30 p.m.
