MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The West Alabama volleyball team forced both matches to four sets, but weren't able to come up with wins on Saturday as they concluded the Auburn Montgomery Tournament. UWA faced Edward Waters in the first match and then Shorter in the second, falling by 3-1 scores in each match.
First Match: Edward Waters 3, West Alabama 1
In the first match of the day against Edward Waters was able to win the final three sets to claim the victory in four sets (20-25, 25-13, 25-21, 25-9).
UWA (5-7) started strong collecting double-digit kills over the first two sets, including a match-high 11 in the opening set. UWA jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first set, taking advantage of three attack errors EWU (6-4), around a kill by Madison Fisher. Holding a 6-5 lead, UWA stretched the lead out to six going on a 5-0 run with Amelia Johnigan spinning in two service aces, a kill by Chyna Dixon and a couple of errors by EWU for an 11-5 lead. UWA broke the set open at 17-14 going on another run, this time a 5-0 spurt to move three points away from the set. Johnigan and Dixon collected kills and around a pair of attacking errors, Maddie Van Dyke spun in a service ace for the 22-14 lead. Kills by Johnigan, Ally Craig and Dixon sealed the set at 25-20 for UWA.
The momentum carried into the second set. UWA reeled off six of the first seven points for the 6-1 lead. Craig opened the set with a kill and after a point by EWU, Johanna Martin put down two straight kills and after two attacking errors, another Martin kill pushed the lead to 6-1. Points by Fisher and Johnigan kept the set tied at eight before EWU went on a 6-0 run for the 14-8 lead. UWA tried to get back in the set with a pair of kills by Craig and a service ace from Quiara Dunson, but EWU kept the pressure on closing the set on a 11-5 run for the 25-13 second set win.
Nathalia Medeiros opened the scoring for UWA in the third set with a kill. Martin, MacKenzie Wells added kills and then a double-block by Johnigan and Medeiros tied the set at four. EWU reeled off the next four points before a double-block by Johnigan and Medeiros kept the deficit at three. Trailing by three, EWU went on to score the next six points to stretch the lead out to nine. With EWU just a few points away from the set at 22-15, UWA mounted a comeback. A kill by Fisher sparked a 6-0 run to pull UWA back to within one. During the run Johnigan added a kill and after a service ace from Fisher, Johnigan and Dixon combined for a block, before Johnigan added a solo block that left EWU with the slim 22-21 lead. EWU then tallied the final three points of the set to take the third at 25-21.
EWU opened the fourth set on a 5-0 run. Medeiros posted a pair of kills and Johnigan added a kill as well to keep the deficit at four. EWU then reeled off the next six points to stretch the lead to 10 at 14-4. A pair of attacking errors by EWU and then a kill by Johnigan, before a double-block by Craig and Martin brought UWA back to within 15-8. EWU closed the set and the match strong going on a 10-1 run to take the set at 25-9 and win the match at 3-1.
EWU held the edge in kills (39-35), service aces (13-7), blocks (9-8), assists (37-31) and digs (52-45). Martin led UWA with eight kills, Johnigan and Martin sent back four blocks, Dixon dished out 17 assists and Dunson and Dixon posted 11 digs.
Naomy Vergez Varona paced EWU with 12 kills. Fatima Ramirez spun in five service aces, Catherine Richards sent back six blocks, Katarine Ribar had 31 assists and Andrea Diaz Merced collected 15 digs.
Second Match: Shorter 3, West Alabama 1
In the second match of the day to conclude the Auburn Montgomery Tournament, Shorter was able to claim the final two sets to win the match 3-1 (25-15, 22-25, 25-10, 25-13).
UWA took the early 4-3 lead in the first set with Dixon posting a kill. Shorter (5-6) reeled off 11 of the next 16 points to take the 15-8 lead. Martin came away with a solo block to break the run and send UWA on a 3-0 run. Martin then combined with Medeiros for a double-block and then an attack error by Shorter had the Tigers to within four at 15-11. UWA made one last push late in the set to get back to within five at 20-15 when Shorter reeled off the final five points to take the opening set at 25-15.
The Hawks opened the second set on a 3-0 run. UWA answered back with four of the next five points as Dixon, Medeiros and Fisher added points to move the Tigers out to the 5-4 lead. Down by two a few points later, Dixon tallied a kill and then teamed with Johnigan for a block before another attack error moved UWA to the 10-9 lead. Shorter went back in front 14-11, just to watch another run by the Tigers with Dixon posting three points around an attack error for the 15-14 lead for UWA. The back-and-forth set continued before UWA went ahead 22-20 on kills by Craig and Johnigan. UWA then claimed the set scoring three of the final four points with Craig collecting a kill, Johnigan a service ace and then a kill by Martin closed the set at 25-22.
Shorter jumped out to the quick 7-2 lead in the third set. UWA looked to get back in the set with Fisher and Johnigan combining for a block and a kill by Craig that left the Hawks ahead at 12-7. Shorter answered with a 7-0 run for the 19-7 lead and never looked back, closing out the set scoring six of the final nine points for the 25-10 win.
UWA fought back to tie the fourth set early at four on a kill by Dixon. With Shorter holding the 11-5 lead, the Tigers came back with a block by Johnigan and two more errors left the deficit at three. After keeping the deficit at three a few points later at 14-11, Shorter tallied the next six points to take the 20-11 lead. Craig and Martin added kills down the stretch, but it wouldn't be enough with the Hawks taking the set at 25-13, to win the match by a 3-1 score.
Dixon led the offense with six kills, while Wells added 14 digs.
Lacee Glover paced the Hawks with 11 kills and Taryn Cycholl added 14 digs.
Shorter held the edge in kills (44-27), service aces (11-3), assists (36-25) and digs (63-41). UWA held the advantage in blocks (10-6).
UWA will return home for their first home match of the season this coming Tuesday, which will also be the Gulf South Conference opener against Union starting at 6 p.m.
