Alabama
4-0
Navy
2-0
Alabama Volleyball Sweeps Navy to Open Play at VCU Invitational
9/6/2019 11:55:00 AM | Volleyball
RICHMOND, Va. – Alabama opened its weekend at the VCU Invitational Friday morning with a three-set sweep over Navy.
Alabama (4-0) and Navy (2-2) battled through two tight sets to start the match, with the Crimson Tide earning narrow 25-21 and 25-22 victories to take a 2-0 match lead. Leading 14-11 just past the halfway mark in the third, the Tide found a rhythm and closed the frame with a convincing 11-2 run to win, 25-13, and cap the sweep.
Graduate student Brooke Kuhlman led all players with 11 kills, hitting .304 along with nine digs. Sophomore Mylana Byrd paced the offense with 24 assists and added four blocks at the net, including a career-best three solo blocks.
From Head Coach Lindsey Devine
"We were patient and followed our game plan. Once we got to the third set, the patience proved to be the difference. We emphasized the attackers being available and increasing their range when they attack. To have Mylana [Byrd] and Meghan [Neelon] as options to set is a huge key to our success. Meghan came in and provided key serves and you balance that out with Mylana who had some key blocks. Both of them together worked hard to create one-on-one opportunities for our attackers."
Alabama opens play at the VCU Invitational with a SWEEP ?? over Navy!
— Alabama Volleyball (@AlabamaVBall) September 6, 2019
1? 25-21
2? 25-22
3? 25-13#BamaVB #RollTide pic.twitter.com/SvTULsfGsM
Stat Leaders
- Kills – Brooke Kuhlman (11)
- Assists – Mylana Byrd (24)
- Digs – Kaylee Thomas (10)
- Blocks – Mylana Byrd (4)
Set-by-Set
- Set One (Alabama 25, Navy 21): Alabama charged ahead to start the set, leading 7-1 after a service ace from Kuhlman before Navy took its first timeout. With the Tide leading 12-5 at the halfway mark, the Midshipmen closed the gap with five-straight points to draw within two before momentum swung back to Alabama with four unanswered to make it 16-10 as Navy took its final timeout. The Midshipmen rallied after the break with a 6-1 run, forcing the Tide to spend a timeout leading 17-16. That was the closest the score would come down the stretch, as Alabama held on to win by four.
- Set Two (Alabama 25, Navy 22): Navy scored the first point of the set, taking its first lead of the match. The Midshipmen would lead by as much as three before Alabama rallied back to eventually move back in front, 9-8. After a pair of lead changes and five tie scores, a block from senior Hayley McSparin and Byrd broke the tie and a kill from McSparin made it 17-15 Alabama with Navy taking its first timeout. Tied again later at 18-18, a service ace from junior Meghan Neelon capped a 3-0 run for the Tide and the Midshipmen spent their final timeout. Alabama eventually reached set point, 24-20, and won it three points later on a Navy service error.
- Set Three (Alabama 25, Navy 13): Tied at 4-4 early in the frame, Alabama scored four unanswered points to lead 8-4 and Navy spent its first timeout. The Midshipmen fought back to draw within one, down 9-8, but four-straight from the Tide moved it to a five-point lead at the halfway mark. Later leading 14-11, the Tide went on an 8-1 run to build a double-digit lead and eventually win by 12.
Key to the Match
In a tightly-contested match, Alabama didn't trail at any point in the first set and only trailed by as much as two points in the second and third sets.
Set 3 | Mylana Byrd with a third solo block, marking a new career-high for the sophomore setter
— Alabama Volleyball (@AlabamaVBall) September 6, 2019
Player of the Match
Graduate Brooke Kuhlman was the leading point-scorer for the Crimson Tide, finishing with 11 kills and a service ace. She was one dig shy of a double-double with nine and hit .304 with just four errors on 23 swings.
Up Next
Alabama returns to the Siegel Center tonight to face tournament host VCU (2-2) at 5 p.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.
