Alabama
2-0,0-0SEC
Marshall
-01,00 CUSA
Alabama Volleyball Beats Marshall, 3-1, for Second Win on Opening Day
8/27/2021 8:03:00 PM | Volleyball
Kendyl Reaugh tallies a career-best 16 kills, Dru Kuck anchors the defense with 24 digs
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. – Alabama volleyball earned its second win of opening day with a four-set decision over tournament host Marshall Friday evening, winning by set scores of 25-27, 25-23, 25-21 and 25-19.
Alabama (2-0) fell in the opening set to Marshall (0-1) but battled back with three set victories, each by increasing point margins, to get the win in four sets. Kendyl Reaugh led the attack with a career-best 16 kills and .317 hitting percentage, committing just three errors on 41 attacks. Abby Marjama was close behind with 14 kills and a .316 clip, with the pair accounting for over half of the team's offensive output. Emily Janek posted her second double-double in as many games, finishing with 39 assists and 13 digs. After setting a new career high with 22 digs earlier today, Dru Kuck improved on that with 24 in Friday's second contest, while Shaye Eggleston also finished in double figures with 15.
Alabama started the opening set with four unanswered and led by as much as six points, up 10-4. Marshall chipped away at the deficit, drawing within one at 15-14 but three in a row from the Tide brought the lead back to 18-14 and the Herd spent a timeout. Alabama reached set point at 24-20 but Marshall fought back to tie it at 24-24 and eventually defeat the Tide, 27-25. The home team held the early lead in the second and Alabama tied the score four times before taking its first lead at 12-11. Neither team would lead by more than two points until Marshall pulled ahead late, 22-19, and the Tide took a timeout. Three in a row from Alabama tied it up at 22-22 and the Tide held on to win the set, 25-23, and even the match.
The teams traded back and forth in another close contest to start the third, until a 5-0 run from Alabama made it 16-11 as Marshall called a timeout. The Tide remained in front for the remainder of the set, eventually winning 25-21 to take a 2-1 match lead. Alabama carried the momentum into the fourth, scoring the first three points and leading 8-3 to force Marshall to burn the early timeout. The home team would draw back as close as one point but could not tie it, spending its final timeout down 19-15 and eventually falling 25-19 as Alabama closed out the win.
Stat Leaders
- Kills: Kendyl Reaugh - 16
- Assists: Emily Janek - 39
- Digs: Dru Kuck - 24
- Blocks: four tied - 3
- Aces: Abby Marjama - 3
Set-by-Set
- Set 1: Marshall 27, Alabama 25
- Set 2: Alabama 25, Marshall 23
- Set 3: Alabama 25, Marshall 21
- Set 4: Alabama 25, Marshall 19
Match Notes
- Kendyl Reaugh's 16 kills ties her career high, last hitting the mark Feb. 6, 2021 at Ole Miss
- After earning double-digit kills in eight of her 10 matches last season, Abby Marjama has done so in each of Friday's matches to start this season
- Eight different players tallied at least one block, including a team-leading three from Reaugh, Alyiah Wells and Sarah Swanson
- After setting a career-high with 22 digs in the season opener, Dru Kuck improved on it with 24 in Friday's second match
- Freshman Laila Smith made her Crimson Tide debut, getting the start at middle blocker
Up Next
- Alabama vs. Miami (OH) – Huntington, W. Va.
- Saturday, Aug. 28 – 9 a.m. CT
