Alabama
2-8,2-8SEC
South Carolina
7-3,7-3SEC
Alabama Volleyball Falls in Hard-Fought Five Set Effort Saturday to South Carolina
1/30/2021 5:28:00 PM | Volleyball
The Crimson Tide hits the road next weekend for a pair of matches at Ole Miss
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama and South Carolina traded set victories for the first four frames in Foster Auditorium Saturday afternoon, with the Gamecocks taking a six-point victory in the deciding fifth set to win the match over the Crimson Tide, 3-2.
Alabama (2-8) edged out a close 25-23 victory in the opener before South Carolina (7-3) stormed back with a 25-13 decision in the second to even the match. The Tide answered with a 25-17 win in the third but could not clinch the match in the fourth, with the Gamecocks taking that one by a score of 25-18.
A kill from Kendyl Reaugh drew Alabama within a point near the mid-point of the fifth set, down 6-5, but a 4-0 run from South Carolina gave the visitors enough cushion to hold on and win, 15-9, to take the match. Aside from a pair of lead changes in the opening set, there were no lead changes in the remaining four sets and only three tie scores throughout that span.
For the second-straight match, Alabama set a new season high in team blocks, ending the match with 13. Alyiah Wells and Chaise Campbell led the Tide in that category with six each, a season high for both players. After leading the team in kills yesterday, Abby Marjama came through again on Saturday with 15 kills. Kendyl Reaugh also finished in double digits with 10 kills, along with 10 digs for her second double-double in as many days.
FROM HEAD COACH LINDSEY DEVINE
"Once we figured out something, we needed to be prepared for our opponent to also make adjustments. It was back and forth that we would adjust, then them, then us again. You have to expect teams to adjust in the SEC. For our blockers, they were focusing on the importance of hand presentation, using their eyes and everything we stress in practice. I was pleased with what I saw. When we get deep in to a match, it seems like we lay off on our serve or on the pass versus other teams that kick it up a level. That's something we have to learn and understand the importance of as we continue through the season."
STAT LEADERS
- Kills | Abbby Marjama - 15
- Assists | Emily Janek - 24
- Aces | Kendyl Reaugh, Abby Marjama - 2
- Digs | Madelyn St. Germain - 13
- Blocks | Alyiah Wells, Chaise Campbell - 6
SCORES BY SET
- 1st | Alabama 25, South Carolina 23
- 2nd | South Carolina 25, Alabama 13
- 3rd | Alabama 25, South Carolina 17
- 4th | South Carolina 25, Alabama 18
- 5th | South Carolina 15, Alabama 9
MATCH NOTES
- The match was Alabama's first this season to go to five sets
- There were four tie scores and two lead changes in the opening set, while there were no lead changes and only three ties in the remaining four sets combined
- For the second-straight match, Alabama set a new season high for blocks, stuffing 13 on Saturday
UP NEXT
- Alabama at Ole Miss – Oxford, Miss. – Gillom Athletics Performance Center
- Friday, Feb. 5 – 2 p.m. CT
- Saturday, Feb. 6 – 2 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.
