Alabama
Virginia Commonwealth
Volleyball Takes Two at Hurricane Invitational
9/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 05, 2008
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The volleyball team took matches against South Dakota State (1-5) and Virginia Commonwealth (3-2) Saturday at the Hurricane Invitational to improve to 4-1 on the season. Brooks Webster collected her second double-double of 2008 with 20 kills and 13 digs against the Jackrabbits, while Alyssa Meuth posted a career-high 16 kills and Lauren Martin a career-best 50 assists.
In the opening match with South Dakota State the Jackrabbit's Kelli Fiegen attacked for the first point of the set. A service error on the next play by South Dakota State's Ellyce Youngren put the score at 1-1, which would be the first of seven ties in the set. Alabama's first lead of the match came off a big block from Lindsey Buteyn and Elizabeth Salstrand that gave the Tide a 9-8 edge. Alabama continued to build on its lead over the next couple plays going ahead by as many as three, but the Jackrabbits fought their way back into the match tying it up at 15-15. After a quick Tide timeout, Calli Johnson answered by blocking the attack from the Jackrabbit's Fiegen. Alabama finished strong behind four kills from Alyssa Meuth, two back-to-back kills from Brooks Webster and finally, two service aces from Mary Catherine Aune. The Tide ended the first on a 10-3 scoring run to take the set 25-18.
Alabama jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead in the second and never looked back. The Tide scored the final six points of the set to take the 25-9 win. Buteyn contributed a solid performance with five kills off five attempts.
The third set was much like the first with neither team pulling ahead by more than three points early on. After Alabama tied the score 17-17, South Dakota State went on the score the next four points to take its largest lead of the set. The Tide fought back with a 6-3 run putting the score at 24-23, but a kill by the Jackrabbit's Youngren gave South Dakota State the point and the set.
In the fourth, South Dakota State led for much of the set until Alabama took its first lead at 16-15. The Jackrabbits regained the lead off an attack error by the Tide. On the next play, Buteyn and Martin teamed together to block Rachel Dahl's attack and tie the set at 17-17. Webster collected a solo block on the next attack attempt from South Dakota State to give Alabama a lead it would not give up for the duration of the match. Fittingly, Webster struck again to give the Tide set, and match, point, with a service ace that landed in the open backcourt.
"Our team found a way to keep things simple after the third set loss," said Green. "We stayed composed and hit the ball very efficiently. In the fourth, the turning point for us was when we went up 19-17. We had two great defensive plays back to back. After that we felt like we were going to win the match."
Following the match, Green explained how impressed she was with the defensive effort of the Tide.
"This was our best team defensive effort so far," said Green. "The defense had a better understanding of what we wanted to do and played cohesively."
In its second match of the day, the Tide used a balanced offensive attack to take set one from Virginia Commonwealth 25-18. Other than an early 2-1 edge by the Rams, Alabama would hold the lead for the entire set. The Tide began to pull away midway through the first off kills by Johnson and Meuth. Virginia Commonwealth attempted one last surge, but Alabama held strong to finish on a 6-1 run.
The Tide opened the second set scoring the first three points off kills by Meuth, Webster and a service ace by Aune. Meuth gave Alabama its largest lead of the set at 22-13 with back-to-back kills. Similar to the first, the Rams made a run late in the set, this time cutting the lead to one at 24-23. Webster capped off the set for the Tide with a kill set up by Pauly.
Neither team could pull away for much of the third with the score staying close until Alabama went up 21-16 behind the kill from Meuth. Virginia Commonwealth began chipping away at the Tide's lead, but it was too little too late.
"Our defensive effort, again, was outstanding," said Green. "Tonight that is what helped us be successful. When you have four players in double-digit digs that is something to be proud of."
Pauly led the backcourt with 14, followed by Jennifer Weber with 13, Webster with 12 and Aune with 11. In both matches combined there were seven double-digit dig efforts.
Next up, Alabama will play Miami for the Tide's final match of the Hurricane Invitational. Opening serve is slated for 10:00 a.m. (CST).
