Alabama
Tennessee
Volleyball Drops Close Match to Tennessee
10/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 24, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The volleyball team was edged by Tennessee Friday night at the CAVE 3-0. Despite the three-set sweep, each frame was decided by a score of 25-22. With the loss, the Crimson Tide stumbles to 10-9 overall and 3-7 in Southeastern Conference matches, while the Lady Volunteers move to 14-8 on the season and 7-4 in league play.
"If we play that hard every night we are going to be a good team," said head coach Judy Green. "I really liked our effort tonight. We made some timely errors. The difference in the match was only nine points."
The Alabama attack was led by Alyssa Meuth who rattled off 15 kills for a .480 hitting percentage. Lauren Martin and Stephanie Riley split the assists with 19 and 14, respectively. Amy Pauly, once again, topped all defenders with 14 digs. Ashley Frazier came up big for the Tide at the net with three solo blocks.
Although the Lady Vols got on the board first, the Tide worked its way back in to the set. Calli Johnson and Frazier teamed up for a big block to get Alabama on the board at 3-1. A Frazier kill got the Tide within striking distance at 13-7. Meuth came up big for Alabama with a timely kill to get the score within one at 23-22 but the Lady Vols came away with the set, 25-22.
The Tide jumped to a quick 4-1 lead in the second set. A Johnson kill gave Alabama the lead at 5-4, but the momentum swung the Lady Vols way. Elizabeth Salstrand earned a big kill at 20-14, and Alabama continued to fight back. Riley earned a key service ace for the Tide at 24-20. Frazier followed with back-to-back solo blocks that got the Tide within two points at 24-22, but the Lady Vols took the set 25-22.
The third set saw the Tide continue with its tough play. A kill by Meuth got the Tide within three at 10-7. Salstrand continued with her timely hitting, getting Alabama within two at 12-10. Pauly and Lindsey Buteyn both earned back-to-back kills to get the Tide within one at 14-13. Alabama continued its hard play and a Buteyn block again got the Tide within one at 21-20. The Lady Vols would eventually take the third set 25-22 and the match.
Alabama wraps up its four-match home stand Sunday when it takes on No. 22 Kentucky at 1:00 p.m. Join the Tide as it raises awareness for breast cancer during its "Dig Pink" match. The first 250 fans will receive a regulation-size Alabama volleyball and "Dig Pink" T-shirt. All fans wearing pink will be let in free of charge. Regular admission to the event is $3 for adults and free for children and Alabama students. For those unable to make it to the match, catch all action live on Fox Sports South.
