CARROLLTON, Ga. – Exacting revenge for a loss earlier this season and earning its first conference win of the year, the University of West Alabama went on the road and defeated West Georgia by a 3-1 score Friday night in volleyball action. The Tigers improve to 9-16 (1-5 Gulf South Conference) while UWG drops to 6-20 (1-6 GSC).
The first set was closely contested, but the Wolves pulled out a 25-23 victory. The Red and White bounced back though with a .306 hitting percentage in the second set en route to a 25-21 win. The start of the second was particularly impressive for the Tigers as the squad roared out to an 8-2 lead.
The third was dominated by the guests as UWA won 25-15 in a frame that the Tigers took a stranglehold on with a 7-0 run after the score was tied at 10. The string of West Alabama points was aided by three consecutive kills by Jennifer Campbell.
Attempting to force a fifth set, West Georgia had a couple of strong spurts in the fourth. Similar to what UWA had done in the second, the Wolves pushed out to a 7-2 lead, but Tiger Head Coach Tabitha Turner called a timeout and her squad responded by scoring six of the next seven points to pull into an 8-8 tie.
The Tigers would fall back behind by as many as four points on three occasions, but with the score at 19-15 in favor of the hosts, West Alabama decided it was time to end the evening's contest. A pair of blocks – Angela Sanders was joined by Campbell on the first and by Olivia Drew on the second – was followed by two kills from Thais Hollerbach to knot the score at 20.
Campbell then recorded an ace to give UWA its first advantage of the frame.
Play tightened up from that point, and the hosts regained the lead at 22-21 before the Tigers rattled off three straight points to give themselves match point at 24-22. West Georgia put another tally on the board, but Hollerbach brought the match to a conclusion with her 19th kill of the night.
The 19 successful attacks mark a new career high for the Porto Alegre, Brazil native. She finished the night with a solid double-double as she also recorded 16 digs, and the senior added four aces.
Drew and Campbell joined Hollerbach by tallying double-figures in kills as the pair collected 14 and 12 respectively. Drew racked up a double-double as well by also compiling 16 digs, and she featured the team's best hitting percentage as she hit at a steady .314 clip.
Alexis McHale had her best night of the season as she recorded 54 assists in the contest – her first 50-assist performance this year. She also recorded a double-double by scooping out 16 balls.
Leading the way defensively for the Tigers was Casey Byrnes who picked up 20 digs, while Noel Corbin also turned in double-figures with 10 as the team combined for 86 digs in the contest. Myeasha Williams and Drew each chipped in on three of the team's six blocks.
The Tigers swing through the state of Georgia continues on Saturday as UWA travels to Valdosta State. Match time is set for noon CDT.
