LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama volleyball team opened its 2024 season with two hard-fought matches. Still, it ultimately fell short against UVA Wise and King University on Thursday at the David J. Prior Convocation Center in the UVA Wise Cavalier Classic.

Match 1: West Alabama vs. UVA Wise
In the first match, UWA battled but could not overcome UVA Wise, losing 3-0. Set one saw the Tigers struggle offensively, hitting a negative percentage (-0.138) compared to UVA Wise's .167. West Alabama improved slightly in set two with eight kills and a .073 hitting percentage, but UVA Wise stayed consistent to take the set. In set three, UWA showed resilience, but UVA Wise closed it out with a .226 attack percentage to win 25-16.

Key players for the Tigers included Jaida Alvin, Gracie Huver, and Peyton Quesnel, each tallying three kills. Maggie Roddam led the defensive efforts with 15 digs, while Berfin Mertcan added nine assists.

Match 2: West Alabama vs. King University
In their second contest, UWA faced King University, falling 3-0 in another competitive match. The Tigers struggled in set one, posting a hitting percentage of -0.147, while King took advantage with a strong .276 percentage. West Alabama showed improvement in sets two and three, with hitting percentages of .091 and .219, respectively, but King continued to dominate at the net.

Jaida Alvin led the team again with seven kills, while Makenzie Widmer and KB Kinney each contributed six. Maggie Roddam recorded 11 digs, and Berfin Mertcan provided 13 assists.

Despite the losses, the Tigers displayed moments of solid play and will look to rebound in their upcoming matches.

The Tigers will continue their road trip with matches against Lees-McRae and Bluefield State.