Women's Volleyball 2/23/2021 2:11:00 PM

UWA Volleyball Starts with Two Matches Tomorrow

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Come tomorrow the wait will be at 466 days since the last time the University of West Alabama Volleyball took the court for a match against outside competition. However, that ends when the Tigers face Auburn Montgomery at 4 p.m. and Montevallo at 7 p.m. at the AUM Athletics Complex to open the special spring season.

"We look forward to the opportunities that we have tomorrow, to see a couple different teams, and to try some different things on the court," said Head coach Hilary Lobenstein." We hope to positively progress with every match and show what we can truly do as a team. We have depth in each position and are excited to see what everyone can do."

Live stats and live video will be available for both games.

Although both AUM and Montevallo (2-0) are Gulf South Conference schools, this season the league will be separated into groups for travel purposes in limiting COVID-19 exposure for student-athletes and coach staffs. Since UWA is in Group A while the Warhawks and Falcons are in Group B, the games won't count in the GSC standings but are still important in establishing a start to the season

Four players return from the last time UWA took the court and they are led by Preseason Top Returner Ally Craig. The 6-foot-1 outside hitter finished third on the team last season and is the leading returner with 233 kills and was second last year on the team at 2.40 kills per set.

The native of Ringgold, Georgia added eight service aces and five assists to finish the year with 264.5 points. Defensively she finished with 102 digs (1.05 digs per set), third in total blocks with 37 (27 block assists and 10 block solos) and finished with a .936 reception percentage She was also named to the 2019 GSC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

Also back for the Tigers are Beatriz Giordan (6-1, middle blocker), Heloisa Niespodzinski (5-8, libero/defensive specialist) and Desiree Blount (5-11, setter). Giordan is the leading returner with 45 total blocks, Blount had 226 assists and leads returners there and Niespodzinsk's 169 digs lead the back line.

MacKenzie Wells is listed among the top newcomers to the GSC this year. The 5-foot-3 libero/defensive specialist posted 569 digs at a rate of 4.09 per set along with 138 assists and 24 service aces during sophomore season at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado. The native of Fruita, Colorado finished time at NJC with 856 digs, 182 assists and 40 service aces.

Wells is one of 11 new Tigers on the squad which includes freshmen Quiara Dunson (5-0, libero/defensive specialist), Madison Smith (5-8, libero/defensive specialist), Amelia Johnigan, (6-1, middle blocker), Ti'Oszalon Hill (6-2, middle blocker/outside hitter); sophomore, Madison Fisher (5-11, outside hitter); juniors Lily Jackson (5-9, setter), Nathalia Medeiros (5-11, outside hitter), Kira Lilly, (6-2, outside hitter); and graduate transfer, Je'Bria Green, (5-10, middle blocker).

UWA will host Mississippi College on March 3 at 6 p.m. in both the home opener in Pruitt Hall Gymnasium and the GSC Group A opener. On March 6, the Tigers hit the road for a GSC Group A contest against CBU at 2 p.m.

West Alabama hosts nonconference opponent Mississippi University for Women on March 10 before wrapping the home slate on March 13 against GSC Group A foe Union.

The final two matches pf the regular season will be on the road against Mississippi College in a nonconference meeting on March 17 before traveling to face Alabama Huntsville in a GSC Group A match on March 20.

To stay connected with the UWA volleyball team, follow @uwavolleyball on Instagram and @uwa_volleyball on Twitter. General athletic news, along with game recaps and box scores, can be found at uwaathletics.com. Additional updates and information are available @UWAAthletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Desiree Blount: S; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#6 Ally Craig: OH; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#8 Beatriz Giordan: MB; 6' 1"; Senior

#9 Heloisa Niespodzinski: L/DS; 5' 8"; Senior

#1 Quiara Dunson: L/DS; 5' 0"; Freshman

#2 Lily Jackson: S; 5' 9"; Junior

#3 Nathalia Medeiros: OH; 5' 11"; Junior

#7 Madison Fisher: OH; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#10 MacKenzie Wells: L/DS; 5' 3"; Junior

#13 Kira Lilly: OH; 6' 2"; Junior

#14 Amelia Johnigan: MB; 6' 1"; Freshman

#15 Je'Bria Green: MB; 5' 10"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

#12 Desiree Blount
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: S

#6 Ally Craig
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: OH

#8 Beatriz Giordan
: 6' 1"; Senior
: MB

#9 Heloisa Niespodzinski
: 5' 8"; Senior
: L/DS

#1 Quiara Dunson
: 5' 0"; Freshman
: L/DS

#2 Lily Jackson
: 5' 9"; Junior
: S

#3 Nathalia Medeiros
: 5' 11"; Junior
: OH

#7 Madison Fisher
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: OH

#10 MacKenzie Wells
: 5' 3"; Junior
: L/DS

#13 Kira Lilly
: 6' 2"; Junior
: OH

#14 Amelia Johnigan
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: MB

#15 Je'Bria Green
: 5' 10"; Graduate Student
: MB