Volleyball to Host Mississippi State Wednesday on ESPNU
11/11/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
THE MATCHUP
Alabama (20-6, 8-4 SEC) begins a three-match home stint with a midweek match against Mississippi State (6-21, 1-11 SEC) on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
THE TIDE ON THE AIR
Video - ESPNU (WatchESPN.com or WatchESPN app)
- Sam Gore (Play-by-Play), Dain Blanton (Analyst)
Audio - WVUA 90.7 FM (wvua.fm.edu)
SCOUTING ALABAMA
Alabama (20-6, 8-4 SEC) - Alabama split a pair of SEC road matches last weekend, falling to No. 7 Florida before rebounding with an intense five-set victory over South Carolina. The Crimson Tide are currently fourth in a tight race near the top of the SEC standings. Krystal Rivers leads the Tide offense with 435 kills (4.26/set), which ranks second in the SEC, while Kat Hutson's 365 kills (3.76/set) ranks fourth. Brittany Thomas earned her seventh double-double of the season in the South Carolina match, as she has been a versatile player for Alabama all season. She ranks third on the team in kills (256, 2.51/set) and second in digs (232, 2.27/set). On defense, Natalie Murison leads the way with 300 digs (2.94/set) while Leah Lawrence owns a team-leading 97 blocks (0.95/set) at the middle.
LAST TIME OUT: VOLLEYBALL FIGHTS TO FIVE-SET VICTORY AT USC
Alabama battled against a resilient South Carolina team Sunday on the road, as the Crimson Tide took a 2-0 match lead, only to have the Gamecocks come back and tie it 2-2 before the Tide eventually won set five, 15-10, to earn the match victory. Alabama secured its 20th win of the season, giving the Tide its first back-to-back 20 win seasons since 2004-05. Alabama was led offensively by Krystal Rivers with 29 kills and 12 digs, her ninth double-double of the season, while Brittany Thomas earned her seventh double-double of the season with 11 kills and 13 digs. Kat Hutson finished with 26 kills, just one shy of her career best, and a .357 hitting percentage along with three blocks. Sierra Wilson paced the offense with 68 assists while Natalie Murison led the defense with 22 digs. South Carolina avoided the sweep with comeback victories in the third and fourth sets, but ultimately could not win the match. The Gamecocks were led by Koko Atoa-Williams with 14 kills while Sarah Blomgren was close behind with 13.
SEEING 20/20
Sunday's win over South Carolina was the 20th this season for Alabama, securing the Tide's second-straight 20 win season. These are the first consecutive 20-win seasons for Head Coach Ed Allen, in his fourth year at Alabama, and are the first for any Alabama team since 2004-05 when the team won 21 and 23 games, respectively. Since the reinstatement of the program in 1989, there have only been four back-to-back 20 win seasons. The first came in 1994-95 under Dorothy Franco-Reed when Alabama won 21 and 24 games respectively. Judy Green accomplished the feat twice, first in 2000-01 with 22 wins in each season, and then again in 2004-05 with 21 and 23 wins. With six matches remaining on the 2014 schedule, Alabama needs just two wins to own the highest combined win total in back-to-back 20 win seasons at Alabama.
TURNING THE TIDE IN TUSCALOOSA
Four of Alabama's remaining six matches will be played at Foster Auditorium, where Alabama has enjoyed one of the best home-court atmospheres in the SEC. The Tide are 8-1 at home this season, including a 4-1 mark in conference play. Alabama is hitting .247 as a team at home while limiting opponents to a .193 hitting percentage. The Tide have improved its winning percentage at home every season under Head Coach Ed Allen, from .500 (7-7) in 2011 to .625 (10-6) in 2012, .786 (11-3) in 2013 and .889 (8-1) so far in 2014.
ALABAMA RECEIVING VOTES IN AVCA POLL, NO. 26 IN RPI
After splitting a pair of road matches last weekend, Alabama dropped three spots in the AVCA coaches' poll, receiving 13 votes to place nine spots outside the Top 25. LSU is making its first appearance in the poll, one slot above Alabama with 15 votes, while Texas A&M fell out of the poll after losing to LSU on Thursday. No. 7 Florida and No. 15 Kentucky represent the SEC in the Top 25. This is the fifth poll this season in which Alabama has received votes. The Crimson Tide dropped two spots in the NCAA RPI, sitting at No. 28 this week. Alabama is the fifth SEC team on the list, trailing Florida (7), Kentucky (13), Texas A&M (15) and LSU (21).
NEXT TIME OUT: ALABAMA VS. GEORGIA (SEC NETWORK)
On Sunday, Nov. 16, Alabama will host the Georgia Bulldogs (11-4, 3-10 SEC) at 1 p.m. CT live on the SEC Network. This will be the second meeting of the teams this season, as Alabama defeated Georgia, 3-1, earlier this season in Athens.
