WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The University of West Alabama volleyball team dropped a pair of matches on Friday to open the 2023 season from the Midwestern State Invitational from D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
UWA's first contest of the day with a 3-0 setback to Central Oklahoma University. The second contest was a 3-1 defeat to the hands of Midwestern State.
MATCH 1: West Alabama vs. Central Oklahoma
For UWA's first match of the day, the two teams went back and forth in the early portion of the set, but UCO scored seven of the next eight points to lead 12-7.
The Tigers did cut the deficit to 18-14 after two Bronco attack errors and a
Mya Carter kill.
Later, trailing 23-15, UWA had a Carter block on the front row, a
Berfin Mertcan service ace and a co-block from
Jaida Alvin and
Amelia Johnigan to make it 23-18. However, for UCO, they won two of the final three points to take the first set.
Sets two and three were near perfect for the Broncos on the attack, posting 25 kills on 50 swings and just one error to cruise to set scores of 25-13 and 25-10 to win the match.
Chyna Dixon averaged a .300 swing percentage with eight kills, while
Quiara Dunson posted 11 digs.
MATCH 2: West Alabama vs. Midwestern State
Like Central Oklahoma took the match earlier, Midwestern State breezed out to a 2-0 set lead thanks to just five attack errors on 49 swings. The Mustangs had set scores of 25-13 and 25-12.
The third set did see the momentum over to West Alabama. Trailing 23-22, kills from
Kenyatta Thomas and
Chyna Dixon gave the Tigers the set victory and avoided the shutout.
In set number four, UWA rolled out to a 14-9 lead after a Mertcan kill and an MSU attack error. However, the home team won 11 of the following 14 points to reclaim the lead for good, 21-17, en route to a 25-19 victory.
Ally Craig and
Kenyatta Thomas had double-digit performances in the kill category with 11 and 10, respectively.
Quiara Dunson posted 13 digs, while
Berfin Mertcan added 26 assists and nine digs.
West Alabama (0-2) wraps up play in Texas on Saturday with Western Colorado and Eastern New Mexico at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.
