LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama volleyball team wrapped up the 2010 home slate with a 3-1 victory over the visiting University of Alabama in Huntsville at Pruitt Hall Tuesday night. The win pushes the Tigers to 10-19 (2-7 Gulf South Conference) and keeps their postseason hopes alive. UAH falls to 9-24 (2-7 GSC).
A win on Friday at North Alabama would give the Tigers the East Division's fourth seed in the GSC tournament as UWA owns the tiebreaker against the Lady Chargers having won five sets in the season series while UAH has won four. A UAH loss to West Georgia Friday evening would also clinch a postseason berth for the Red and White.
On a night that she was honored as the team's lone senior, Thais Hollerbach led all players in the match with 17 kills, and she added 14 digs for her 14th double-double of the year.
Roaring out of the gates, the hosts took the first set in overwhelming fashion by a 25-13 score on the strength of an even .500 hitting percentage as they committed just two attack errors in the frame. West Alabama was particularly strong in wrapping up the set as it outscored UAH 13-2 in reaching the 25th point.
The second set was a closer affair as neither team led by more than a point until the visitors pushed out to a 20-17 lead by scoring three straight points with the stanza tied at 17. Not wanting to go away quietly, the Red and White ripped off a 7-2 run to take a 24-22 advantage and eventually won the set in extras by a 27-25 mark.
The Lady Chargers took complete control of the third set, leading by as many as 12 points at one point, but the Tigers battled back and after a pair of Casey Byrnes aces, the squad trailed just 22-19. The comeback effort would fall short though as UAH won the third 25-21.
The fourth frame was controlled by UWA as it never trailed in the frame after the team used three blocks to pace itself out to a 7-2 advantage. With the Lady Chargers threatening to make the set interesting, Hollerbach gave the Tigers match point by placing a ball perfectly on the line for the final of her 17 kills. Following an attack error by the Tigers, Katelyn Beardshear put away the game's last ball for a 25-20 UWA set victory.
Joining Hollerbach in double figures in kill were Olivia Drew who recorded 12 and Myeasha Williams who collected 11. Drew led the squad with a .370 swing percentage as she tallied just two errors on 27 attempts.
Alexis McHale breached the 50-assist mark once again as she handed out 52 helpers.
Defensively the Tigers were paced by Casey Byrnes who scooped out 24 balls, and Drew picked up a team-best three blocks.
The game at North Alabama on Friday begins at 7 p.m.
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