Volleyball Hosts Bama Bash this Weekend
9/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 3, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The volleyball team (1-3) will look to tack on a few more wins this week when it hosts its sixth-annual Bama Bash beginning Friday, Sept. 4 in the CAVE. Traveling to Tuscaloosa for the six-match tournament is Jacksonville State (3-1), McNeese State (4-0) and Southern Methodist (2-2).
Action begins Friday at Noon (CST) with SMU and Jacksonville State followed by Jacksonville State and McNeese State at 4:00 p.m. (CST). Alabama takes the floor at 7:00 p. m. (CST) when it takes on SMU. On Saturday, the Tide will kick things off against Jacksonville State at Noon (CST) proceeded by McNeese State and SMU at 2:00 p.m. (CST). Alabama and McNeese State will wrap up the tournament at 5:00 p.m. (CST).
The Tide picked up a 3-0 win against Alabama A&M earlier this week when it played in a rare Tuesday match. Junior Calli Johnson had a career outing versus the Bulldogs with 12 kills off 16 attack attempts good for a .688 hitting percentage. She also had a hand in five of Alabama's nine blocks. Sophomore Ashley Frazier was one dig shy of a double-double as she finished with 10 kills and nine digs, while sophomore Stephanie Riley led the setting duo with 22 assists.
Jacksonville State opened its season with an impressive showing at the Deacon Invitational in Winston-Salem, N.C. sweeping the tournament with wins against Furman, Wake Forest and Charlotte 3-1, 3-1 and 3-2, respectively. The Gamecocks were handed their first loss of the season when they returned to the Yellow Hammer state Tuesday in a 3-1 defeat to UAB in Birmingham. Junior Caitlin Vorbeck leads the team in kills per set (3.41) and attack percentage (.311). The Raytown, Mo. native earned All-Tournament honors at the Deacon Invitational last month.
McNeese State arrives in Tuscaloosa as the only undefeated team taking part in the Bama Bash after sweeping its three matches at the Maroon Classic in Starkville, Miss. and defeating Houston Baptist 3-0 in the Cowgirls' home opener Tuesday. McNeese State is led by senior outside hitter Chanel Tyler who leads the Cowgirls with 61 kills, 13 service aces and 3.33 digs per set. Tyler was named MVP in the Mississippi State Maroon Classic last week.
Southern Methodist opened the season dropping two out of three matches at the Mean Green Volleyball Classic in Denton, Texas. The Mustangs are led by sophomore outside hitter Dana Powell who leads the team in kills per set (3.43), attack percentage (.337) and digs per set (2.79). Powell picked up three double-doubles in as many matches at the Mean Green Invitational last weekend. Southern Methodist faced off against North Texas Wednesday night where the Mustangs won their 11th straight against the Mean Green.
Alabama is 10-5 all time in the Bama Bash and holds winning records against both Jacksonville State and McNeese State. The Tide is 6-0 in the series versus the Gamecocks with the last meeting coming on Sept. 19, 2003. Alabama and McNeese State have only met one time previous which took place Sept. 7, 2002 resulting in a 3-0 Tide win. This will be the first meeting between Alabama and SMU.
Season tickets are still available for $30 and can be purchased at the door this week in addition to clicking here or calling the Alabama Ticket Office at 1-877-TIDETIX (843-3849). Single match tickets are available 90 minutes prior to the start of the match at the door. The cost is $3 for adults and free for students and youth ages 18 and under.
