HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The University of West Alabama volleyball team recorded its fourth-straight 3-0 sweep and its 12th consecutive win as UWA blanked NCAA Division I foe Alabama A&M on Wednesday night.
The Tigers claimed the opening set 25-19 and rallied past AAMU (8-11) in the next two sets by identical scores of 25-23. With the win, UWA notched its 21st win of the season and is one of 14 NCAA Division II squads with 20-plus wins on the season thus far. The win also extends UWA's string of wins over NCAA Division I opposition this season to four. The Red and White have claimed a pair of matches against Jackson State and AAMU. The Maroon and White Bulldogs entered the in-state duel on a two-match win streak.
Senior Jessica Crook, the current Gulf South Conference East Division Offensive Player of the Week, paced UWA with a team-best 13 kills. The Ohatchee, Ala.-product finished with a .579 attacking percentage and had just one miscue on 19 attempts. Senior Ana Gabriela Pedrosa was credited with ten kills while senior Jordan Kent added seven kills in the affair. Defensively, a pair of Tigers carded double figure dig totals, led by senior Chanelle Esteban's 13 digs. Sophomore Casey Byrnes tallied 11 digs. Sophomore setter Alexis McHale dished out assists along registering three kills.
AAMU's Madinah Abdullah posted a match-high 15 kills in the setback.
UWA returns to action this weekend, taking part in the Henderson State Invitational on Friday and a tilt with Ouachita Baptist on Saturday morning in Arkadelphia, Ark. The Tigers and Lady Reddies will square off in a battle of GSC division leaders at 3:30 p.m. The Red and White out-lasted HSU, 3-2 earlier in the season in Florence, Ala. UWA will close out Friday at 5 p.m. against Arkansas Tech.
