Alabama
6-1
UAB
3-4
Volleyball Earns Sixth Win, Fourth Sweep, Thursday at UAB
9/12/2019 9:09:00 PM | Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama had to rally from early deficits in all three sets against UAB Thursday night at Bartow Arena, completing the comeback each time to earn its fourth sweep of the season.
Alabama (6-1) trailed in the first half of each set to UAB (3-4), fighting back to tie it at 17-17 in both the first and second sets and 15-15 in the third to eventually win a trio of lengthy battles by scores of 29-27, 25-18 and 30-28, respectively.
Freshman Alyiah Wells continued her strong rookie campaign, leading the team with 12 kills and a .409 hitting percentage. She was one of three players with five blocks, joined by senior Hayley McSparin and sophomore Mylana Byrd.
Three up, three down! Alabama gets the SWEEP ?? over UAB Thursday in Birmingham!#BamaVB #RollTide pic.twitter.com/4wYBYD8EbW
— Alabama Volleyball (@AlabamaVBall) September 13, 2019
Stat Leaders
- Kills – Alyiah Wells (12)
- Assists – Mylana Byrd (33)
- Digs – Kaylee Thomas (10)
- Blocks – Alyiah Wells, Hayley McSparin, Mylana Byrd (5)
Set 1 | Solo block Hayley McSparin! That's six-straight points for Alabama, leading 20-17
— Alabama Volleyball (@AlabamaVBall) September 13, 2019
Set-by-Set
- Set One (Alabama 29, UAB 27): Tied early at 3-3, UAB pulled ahead with at 6-2 run to make it a four-point game. Alabama stayed within striking distance, eventually retaking the lead at 18-17 after four-straight errors by the Blazers. The Tide stretched its scoring streak to six unanswered, capped by a solo block from McSparin to make it 20-17. UAB took a timeout three points later trailing 22-18 before scoring back-to-back points as Alabama spent its own timeout with its lead trimmed to two. The Tide reached set point at 24-22 but the Blazers held steady to score twice and tie it at 24-24 before Alabama took its second timeout. The Tide would reach set point four more times before securing the set after a Blazer attack error to win, 29-27.
- Set Two (Alabama 25, UAB 18): UAB jumped ahead to an early 5-1 lead in the second, but Alabama quickly rallied within one to trail 6-5. The advantage swung back in the Blazers' favor, pulling ahead 12-7 after a 4-0 run before the Tide took a timeout. Later trailing 15-10, Alabama went on a 6-1 run to tie the score at 16-16 before UAB looked to halt the momentum with a timeout. A solo block from Wells three points later gave the Tide its first lead of the set, 18-17, and a 4-1 run further extended the lead to 22-18 before UAB burned its final timeout. Three more points capped a 7-0 run for the Tide to close out the set and the seven-point victory.
- Set Three (Alabama 30, UAB 28): For the third-straight set the home team held the early momentum, moving ahead 7-3. Alabama chipped away at the deficit, drawing within one at the halfway mark and taking the lead at 16-15 after a kill from senior Ginger Perinar. UAB drew within one point three times before tying it at 21-21, forcing a late Tide timeout. The Tide reached match point at 24-22 but a resilient Blazer squad rallied to tie it at 24-24 and again at 25-25 before taking the lead, 26-25, for set point as Alabama took a timeout. The Tide pulled back ahead, reaching match point three more times before putting it away, 30-28, to complete the sweep.
Alabama closes it out with seven-straight points to win the second set and take a 2-0 match lead over UAB!#BamaVB #RollTide pic.twitter.com/SQYv8Nu8kF
— Alabama Volleyball (@AlabamaVBall) September 13, 2019
Key to the Match
UAB held the early momentum in each of the three sets but late pushes from Alabama swung each back in the Crimson Tide's favor. Alabama rallied to tie it at 17-17 in the first and second sets and held the lead the rest of the way in each frame. After tying it at 15-15 in the third set, the Tide only trailed once down the stretch.
Up Next
Alabama returns to Bartow Arena Friday morning, facing Georgia State (3-3) at 10 a.m. CT.
For the latest information on the team, follow @AlabamaVball on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Volleyball on Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
