Alabama
7-4,0-0SEC
Western Carolina
4-7,0-0SoCon
Alabama Volleyball Caps Undefeated Weekend at Bama Bash with Saturday Wins over Western Carolina and Tennessee Tech
9/18/2021 8:49:00 PM | Volleyball
Kennedy Muckelroy named Bama Bash MVP, Brooke Slusser All-Tournament
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama volleyball capped an undefeated weekend at the Bama Bash with a pair of wins Saturday over Western Carolina and Tennessee Tech.
Alabama (8-4) started the day with a hard-fought win over Western Carolina (4-7), falling in the first set before rallying to win the next three and take the match in four sets. In the nightcap, the Crimson Tide won the first two sets in convincing fashion over Tennessee Tech (5-6) by scores of 25-13 and 25-16 before battling out a 25-23 win in the third to complete the sweep.
With a 3-0 record this weekend, Alabama won the Bama Bash, marking its third tournament title of the season along with the Marshall Invitational (Aug. 27-28) and Crimson Tide Invitational (Sept. 2-4). Kennedy Muckelroy was named the Bama Bash MVP while Brooke Slusser was named to the All-Tournament team.
Carrying its momentum at the service line from Friday, Alabama won the battle again on Saturday with a combined 22 aces in the two matches with just seven errors, opposed to eight aces from opponents with 19 service errors. The Tide posted three of its four highest service ace totals of the season this weekend, including a season-best 12 against Tennessee Tech.
Abby Marjama led the team with a combined 21 kills in Saturday's two matches, along with a season-best six service aces against the Catamounts before almost tying that mark against the Golden Eagles with five. Muckelroy hit .350 with 18 kills and Slusser finished with 36 assists, averaging 5.14 per set.
From Head Coach Lindsey Devine
"It's just about preparing and reinforcing the things we need to do heading into SEC play. We've been talking a lot about just attacking the adverse moments and giving yourself the opportunity to be successful by playing all out with a fearless approach."
Stat Leaders
vs. Western Carolina
- Kills: Chaise Campbell - 13
- Assists: Brooke Slusser - 21
- Digs: Dru Kuck - 26
- Blocks: Three tied - 1
- Aces: Abby Marjama – 6
vs. Tennessee Tech
- Kills: Abby Marjama - 11
- Assists: Brooke Slusser - 15
- Digs: Dru Kuck - 10
- Blocks: Three tied - 2
- Aces: Abby Marjama - 5
Set-by-Set vs. Western Carolina
- Set 1: Western Carolina 25, Alabama 21
- Set 2: Alabama 25, Western Carolina 19
- Set 3: Alabama 25, Western Carolina 21
- Set 4: Alabama 25, Western Carolina 23
Set-by-Set vs. Tennessee Tech
- Set 1: Alabama 25, Tennessee Tech 13
- Set 2: Alabama 25, Tennessee Tech 16
- Set 3: Alabama 25, Tennessee Tech 23
Match Notes
- The 12 aces against Tennessee Tech are Alabama's highest total of the season and its 10 against Western Carolina is its third highest
- The Tide is now 5-1 at Foster Auditorium this season, already beating its home win marks from 2019 and 2020
- Abby Marjama has now scored at least one service ace in five straight matches, including a season-high six Saturday against Western Carolina
- Other career highs against the Catamounts include 13 kills from Chaise Campbell and 26 digs from Dru Kuck
Up Next
- Wednesday, Sept. 22 vs. Texas A&M – Tuscaloosa, Ala. – 6 p.m. CT
- Saturday, Sept. 25 at LSU – Baton Rouge, La. – 5 p.m. CT
