Volleyball to Host Arkansas Sunday on the SEC Network
10/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
THE MATCHUP
Alabama (17-5, 5-3 SEC) hosts the Arkansas Razorbacks (11-10, 5-3 SEC) on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.
THE TIDE ON THE AIR
Video - SEC Network (WatchESPN.com or WatchESPN app) Melissa Lee (Play-by-Play) and Missy Whittemore (Analyst)
Audio - 90.7 FM/wvuafm.ua.edu
SCOUTING ALABAMA
Alabama (17-5, 5-3 SEC) - Alabama is coming off a convincing sweep of Auburn on the road Sunday night, the Tide's first sweep in SEC play. A potent Crimson Tide offense is led at right side by Krystal Rivers with 341 kills (4.01/set) and a .303 hitting percentage. Rivers is just as dangerous at the service line, as she leads the team and ranks second in the SEC with 32 aces (0.38/set). At the outside pin, Kat Hutson and Brittany Thomas have combined for 504 kills, with Thomas also ranking third on the team with 182 digs. Middle blockers Bruna Evangelista and Leah Lawrence are a complimentary pair, as Evangelista owns 131 kills and a team-leading .356 clip from the M2 position, while Lawrence has stuffed a team-leading 84 blocks as the M1. On defense, freshman Natalie Murison has been the team's primary libero, owning a team-leading 242 digs.
LAST TIME OUT: VOLLEYBALL SWEEPS AUBURN ON THE ROAD WEDNESDAY
Alabama made quick work of Auburn Wednesday night on the road, as the Crimson Tide swept the Tigers in its first conference sweep of the season. Alabama won the opening two sets against Auburn by identical scores of 25-12, the largest margin of victory for the Tide in SEC play this season. The sweep was also Alabama's first in conference play this season and the first SEC sweep since Nov. 27, 2013 at Mississippi State. Brittany Thomas earned her fifth double-double of the season with 11 kills and 11 digs along with a .393 clip as she went error-free over 28 swings. Alabama only had three total errors, ending with a team hitting percentage of .369 as Krystal Rivers (.405), Kat Hutson (.455) and Bruna Evangelista (.455) each finished above .400.
BEATING THE STREAK
Alabama's win over Auburn helped avoid back-to-back losses, which has fortunately become a rarity recently at Alabama. The Tide have only lost back-to-back matches once this year and did the same last year, giving Alabama a better two-year total than any single year since 2003. Alabama had consecutive losses on two occasions in 2003, falling in four-straight matches in the preseason and losing back-to-back matches in early October. Alabama hasn't had a losing streak longer than two games since 2012.
WILSON AMONG TOP TEN IN ASSISTS
Junior setter Sierra Wilson posted a season-high 62 assists in the loss to Ole Miss, adding to an already impressive total that puts her among the nation's elite. Wilson has 938 assists this year, which leads the SEC by over 100 and ranks eighth nationally. She is one of just 14 setters to own 900 assists and her average of 11.44 per set ranks 11th nationally. Wilson isn't just the highest-ranked player in the SEC, but she is well ahead of the assists leaders in the Big 12 (Ainise Havili, Kansas, 852), ACC (Lauren Full, Virginia, 844), Big 10 (Megan Tallman, Indiana, 820) and Pac 12 (Bianca Arellano, Arizona State, 812).
ALABAMA RANKED NO. 33 IN LATEST RPI
Through 21 matches this season, Alabama is ranked 33rd in the latest RPI, released on Monday, Oct. 20. The loss to Ole Miss dropped the Tide from 29 to 33, putting Alabama fifth among SEC teams trailing Florida (8), Kentucky (9), Texas A&M (21) and LSU (30). There are 11 matches remaining in the regular season, including Oct. 31 vs. Texas A&M and Nov. 7 at Florida. Five of the remaining 11 matches will be at home, including the season finale against Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 29.
2014 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
- Alabama received Top 25 votes for the first time in school history on Sept. 29, appearing five spots outside the Top 25 in the Week Five AVCA poll. Alabama has received votes in the poll every week since.
- Krystal Rivers was named Preseason All-SEC and earned back-to-back Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 22 and Sept. 29.
- The Tide won three tournament titles during the preseason, winning the Marcia E. Hamilton Classic on opening weekend in St. Louis, the ISTAP Collegiate Cup 2 in Montgomery, Ala., and the Crimson-White Tournament in Tuscaloosa.
- Alabama set a new Foster Auditorium volleyball attendance record vs. LSU on Sept. 28, as 1,749 fans packed in to watch the Crimson Tide defeat the Tigers in four sets. This beats the previous record of 1,670 set on Sept. 14, 2012 against LSU.
- Alabama returns nine players from last year's squad while welcoming eight newcomers.
NEXT TIME OUT: ALABAMA VS. NO. 24 TEXAS A&M
Alabama returns to action on Friday, Oct. 31, hosting No. 24 Texas A&M (12-6, 4-3 SEC) for a 7 p.m. CT Halloween matchup.
