ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - West Alabama volleyball ended its first day at the HSU/OBU Bettye Wallace Invitational with two wins, defeating Pittsburg State 3-1 and downing Southern Arkansas 3-2 on Friday.
 
The Tigers improve to 5-1 on the season, while Pittsburg State falls to 0-5. Southern Arkansas drops to 2-4 on the year.
 
"Today was an unbelievable day," UWA head coach Alexis Meeks said. "That's the only way I know how to describe it. There are times as a head coach where you have to step back and let your kids grind it out, and that's exactly what my girls did all day."
 
"I'm proud of the steps we are continually taking forward and all of the adversity we are overcoming. Every match has been a wonderful learning experience that is preparing us for what's to come. The word 'proud' does not even come close enough to describing how I feel after today."
 
UWA jumped ahead of PSU with a 25-17 victory in the first set before falling in the second set 14-25. The Tigers responded by taking the third and fourth sets 25-13 and 25-22 to earn their first win of the day.
 
Briana Sandifer recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 15 kills and 18 digs, while Yanesha Johnson added 12 kills to the Tiger attack. Alex Fuelling tallied 14 digs, and Abby Ames finished with 10 digs.
 
The Tigers combined to hit a .185 attack percentage, while the Gorillas finished with .092. Peyton Walker led the PSU attack with 11 kills. Ashlen Schwartz totaled 11 digs to lead Pittsburg State defensively.
 
After a lengthy intermission between matches, the Tigers dropped the first two sets against Southern Arkansas, falling 22-25 in both. UWA rallied in the third set, edging out SAU 27-25 in the third set before taking the fourth and fifth sets 25-14 and 15-8 to earn the victory.
 
Sandifer posted a .333 attack percentage in her sixth double-double in as many games, finishing with 26 kills and 16 digs. Johnson recorded 25 kills, helping to lead to the Tigers offensively. Ames picked up another 15 digs on the day. Fuelling and Callie Murphy each finished with 10 digs.
 
As a team, West Alabama posted 11 blocks, while holding Southern Arkansas to just three. Alli O'Banion led the Muleriders with 20 kills. Paige Mays totaled 20 digs, while Serena LeDuff followed with 19 digs.
 
The Tigers will continue in the tournament Saturday, taking on Drury at 9 a.m. and Missouri Southern State at 2 p.m.