Crimson Outlasts White in Annual Volleyball Scrimmage
8/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 15, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The volleyball team played in its first match-like situation on Sunday for the annual Crimson White scrimmage where the Crimson team edged the White squad 3-2 (25-21, 27-25, 20-25, 9-15, 15-10). The split teams competed for one hour and 40 minutes in the CAVE.
"I thought this was a really fun afternoon," Alabama head coach Judy Green said. "The scrimmage gave us coaches an opportunity to see the players in a match-like environment, and likewise, gave the players a chance to compete with new faces."
Throughout the first two sets teams were evenly split with players in addition to having one assistant coach per side. These sets were played in traditional rally-scoring format and were both won by the Crimson team. Senior right side Alyssa Meuth led the match in kills through the opening two frames with nine.
In the last three sets, teams were mixed only this time both assistant coaches were placed on the visiting, or Crimson, squad giving the white team the majority of the student-athletes. In addition, the Crimson team would serve the entire time throughout sets three, four and five.
Sophomore libero Kelsey Anderson finished with a match-high 19 digs, followed closely by senior Mary Catherine Aune and freshman Kelsey Melito, both defensive specialists, with 17 apiece. Senior setter Kayla Schmidt and junior setter Stephanie Riley combined for 60 assists, while the freshman blocking trio of Molly Ahrens, Shelbi Goode and Morgan Hendrix had a hand in five total rejections.
"Today was also very beneficial in showing us what we have to work at improving on," Green added. "We have two weeks before our first match of the season, so we will spend this last handful of practices leading up to that working on getting better."
Alabama tips off its 2010 season on the road at the Hawkeye Invitational in Iowa City, Iowa. The Tide plays host institution Iowa on Friday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. CT before taking on Green Bay on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 4:30 p.m. CT and Southern Illinois to close out the tournament on Sunday, Aug. 29 at 11:30 a.m. CT.
