Alabama Volleyball to Host Alabama State on Tuesday

Sept. 28, 2015

SCOUTING ALABAMA

Alabama (6-8, 1-0 SEC) - The Crimson Tide played just one match last week, opening conference play at home with a 3-1 comeback victory over Mississippi State on Wednesday, falling in the opening set before rebounding with wins in the next three sets. Senior setter Sierra Wilson leads the SEC and ranks third nationally with 670 assists, while her average of 11.55 assists-per-set ranks 11th in the country. Sophomore Kat Hutson led the team in kills for the second straight match, as she currently leads the team with a 3.30 kills-per-set average that ranks seventh in the SEC. Junior Brittany Thomas is right behind Hutson in the SEC rankings in eighth place with a 3.22 kills-per-set average, accumulating a team-leading 187 kills over 14 starts. The Tide's defense has seen improvement both at the net and in the back row, as redshirt junior Krystal Rivers is ranked eighth in the SEC in blocks (46, 1.15/set) and sophomore Natalie Murison is ranked seventh in digs (226, 3.90/set).

LAST TIME OUT: ALABAMA REBOUNDS TO DEFEAT MISSISSIPPI STATE

After falling in the opening set, Alabama rebounded to win the next three sets and defeat Mississippi State, 3-1, Wednesday, Sept. 23 in Foster Auditorium.

Alabama (6-8, 1-0 SEC) fell in the opening set to Mississippi State (10-4, 0-1 SEC), 24-21, but the defense picked it up in the remaining three sets, limiting the Bulldogs to a .050 clip over the remaining three sets. The Tide front line stuffed 10 blocks, led by Krystal Rivers who tied her career high with eight blocks along with 11 kills and a .409 attack percentage. Kat Hutson led the Tide in kills for the second straight match, knocking in 16, while Brittany Thomas earned her eighth double-double of the year with 10 kills and 13 digs.

BUILDING MOMENTUM

After a tough start to the season, Alabama has been building positive momentum over its past three matches, significantly improving in many categories.

Kills-per-set
- First 12 matches: 13.11/set
- Last 3 matches: 14.50/set

Hitting Percentage

First 12 matches: .198
Last 3 matches: .261

Blocks-per-set

First 12 matches: 2.04/set
Last 3 matches: 2.50/set

Receiving errors

First 12 matches: 1.07/set
Last 3 matches: 0.83/set

STANDOUTS FROM WEEK FIVE

Redshirt junior Krystal Rivers tied a career high with eight blocks against Mississippi State, accounting for the majority of the team's 10 in the match. She also added 11 kills and a .409 attack percentage on offense.
Sophomore Kat Hutson led the team in kills for the second straight match, totaling 16 in the four-set victory over the Bulldogs.
Junior Brittany Thomas posted her team-leading eighth double-double of the year, tallying 10 kills and 13 digs against Mississippi State. She is just two double-doubles shy of matching her total from all of last season.
Sophomore Natalie Murison earned 18 digs against Mississippi State, marking the sixth time this season she has posted at least 18 digs in a match, three of which have come in four sets.

WILSON CLOSING IN ON CAREER ASSISTS RECORD

With 670 assists so far this season, senior setter Sierra Wilson now has 4,942 career assists, which is just 636 shy of Brigitte Slack's (2004-07) career record of 5,578. Wilson entered the season in third place with 4,272, trailing Jennifer Miller (1989-92) in second place by just 61. The Anaheim, Calif., native finished the opening match against Long Beach State with 38 assists and then surpassed Miller's mark the next day against Cal State Fullerton with 69 assists in the lengthy five-set victory.

NEXT TIME OUT: AT TENNESSEE/KENTUCKY

This weekend, Alabama hits the road for a pair of SEC matches, facing Tennessee on Friday, Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. CT and Kentucky on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 12:30 p.m. CT.

University of Alabama Athletics

Alabama Volleyball to Host Alabama State on Tuesday

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Kat Hutson

Natalie Murison

Krystal Rivers

Brittany Thomas

Sierra Wilson

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