Volleyball to Take on UAB Tuesday in Home Opener
9/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
THIS WEEK
Alabama (8-2) will make its 2014 Foster Auditorium debut on Tuesday, Sept. 16 as the Crimson Tide welcome the UAB Blazers (3-7) for a 7 p.m. CT match.
THE TIDE ON THE AIR
Watch: SEC + via espn3.com or the WatchESPN app ( LINK)
Listen: WVUA 90.7 FM or online at wvuafm.ua.edu (LINK)
SCOUTING ALABAMA
Alabama (8-2, 0-0 SEC) - Alabama rebounded from back-to-back losses in Virginia with three-straight sweeps last week in Montgomery to move to 8-2. Redshirt sophomore Krystal Rivers leads the way on offense with 148 kills (3.89) and an SEC-leading 22 service aces, followed closely behind by freshman Kat Hutson with 112 kills. Sophomore Brittany Thomas leads the team with 95 digs, ranks third in kills with 91 and is tied for the team lead with two double-doubles. A pair of newcomers at the middle, freshman Leah Lawrence and junior Bruna Evangelista, have solidified a stout front-row defense for the Crimson Tide so far this season as they have combined for 76 blocks (10 solo, 66 assisted).
LAST TIME OUT: ALABAMA SWEEPS ITS OPPONENTS IN MONTGOMERY
Alabama made quick work of its three opponents at last weekend's ISTAP Collegiate Cup 2 in Montgomery, Ala., defeating Southern Miss, Alabama State and Towson each in three sets. In the weekend opener against Southern Miss, Alabama narrowly edged out the first frame, 25-23, before winning the remaining two in more convincing fashion, 25-11 and 25-15. The next day, the Tide opened play against the host Alabama State Hornets, posting a 3-0 victory behind a weekend-high .448 hitting percentage. Much like the match against Southern Miss, Alabama increased its margin of victory with each set, winning 25-19, 25-17 and 25-13. The weekend finale pitted Alabama against the undefeated Towson Tigers, where the Tide won by relatively narrow margins of 25-20, 25-21 and 25-21 but ended up with a 3-0 record after just nine sets of play.
THOMAS AND WILSON NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Two keys in Alabama's 3-0 weekend were recognized on the ISTAP Collegiate Cup 2 All-Tournament team, as junior Sierra Wilson and sophomore Brittany Thomas both earned a spot. Wilson paced the Tide's potent offense, tallying 97 assists in nine sets, an average of 10.7 per set. Her 38 assists against Alabama State are her most in a three-set match this season, while her three kills against Towson are the most for Wilson in any match this season. Thomas finished the weekend with 24 kills (2.67/set), a .345 hitting percentage, 18 digs and seven blocks. Her .478 hitting percentage against Alabama State was a new career high, as were her three solo blocks against Towson later that day.
RIVERS THE ACE OF THE STAFF
In addition to her offensive prowess at the right side, Krystal Rivers has proven a viable weapon at the service line as well. She currently leads the SEC in service aces at 22, an average of 0.58 per set. That ranks her 8th nationally sorted by total aces and 20th sorted by average. She earned a career-high five aces earlier this season against Southeastern Missouri State, the most in a match since Brittany Thomas earned five last season on Sept. 14 against UT-Martin. As a team, Alabama leads the SEC in aces and ranks 12th nationally.
NEXT TIME OUT: CRIMSON-WHITE TOURNAMENT
This weekend, Alabama will host the Crimson-White Tournament as the Tide welcome Florida International, San Diego State and Clemson into Foster Auditorium. Alabama opens the weekend against Florida International on Friday, Sept. 19 at Noon CT before ending the day against San Diego State at 7 p.m. CT. The following night, the Tide play Clemson at 7 p.m. CT.
Crimson-White Tournament Schedule
Friday, Sept. 19
Noon - Alabama vs. FIU
2:30 - San Diego State vs. Clemson
7:00 - Alabama vs. San Diego State
Saturday, Sept. 20
Noon - FIU vs. Clemson
3:30 - FIU vs. San Diego State
7:00 - Alabama vs. Clemson
