LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama volleyball team battled through five sets Saturday afternoon to earn a 3-2 Gulf South Conference victory over Lee University inside Pruitt Hall. The Tigers claimed the match by scores of 25-21, 22-25, 25-9, 20-25 and 15-12.
The victory improves West Alabama to 21-2 overall and 8-1 in GSC play while extending its unbeaten home record to 11 matches this season. The Tigers completed their weekend homestand with victories over Trevecca Nazarene University and Lee.
West Alabama opened Saturday's contest with a 25-21 victory in the first set before Lee responded in the second. The Flames built a seven-point advantage and held off the Tigers for a 25-22 win to even the match at one set apiece.
The Tigers answered with a commanding performance in the third set, holding Lee to just nine points in a 25-9 victory. West Alabama limited the Flames to a -.138 hitting percentage in the set, allowing just four kills while forcing eight attack errors.
Lee refused to go away in the fourth set, building a nine-point advantage as the Flames worked to extend the match. Lee recorded 16 kills while hitting .302 to secure a 25-20 victory and force a decisive fifth set. West Alabama responded in the final set, recording 11 kills and hitting .250 to close out the match with a 15-12 victory.
Klára Bobánová earned Player of the Match honors after leading the Tigers offensively with a match-high 22 kills on 51 attempts, finishing with a .314 hitting percentage and six digs. Bobánová's performance helped power West Alabama to its five-set victory over Lee.
Katerina Korre followed with 18 kills and 10 digs, recording a double-double while adding a solo block and a block assist.
Cadence Goeden returned to the lineup and contributed 10 kills on 25 attempts, hitting .280 while adding two block assists.
Duru Seber finished with nine kills, three service aces and four total blocks, while
Ola Winiarek added six kills and nine digs.
Gracie Huver earned the start in the middle and delivered an efficient performance, recording five kills on nine attempts with just one attack error for a .444 hitting percentage. Huver also contributed three block assists.
Rachele Zanini directed the West Alabama offense with 57 assists while adding five service aces and 10 digs.
Charlotte Kerscher anchored the defensive effort with a team-high 21 digs and added two service aces.
As a team, West Alabama finished with 70 kills on 178 attempts for a .247 hitting percentage. The Tigers also recorded 74 digs, 10 service aces and eight total blocks while limiting Lee to 54 kills and a .231 hitting percentage.
Lee was led by Esthefany Rabit, who recorded 17 kills on 34 attempts with a .471 hitting percentage and six total blocks. Payton Danley followed with 13 kills while hitting .480, and Avery Sample led the Flames defensively with 22 digs.
The Tigers return to action Tuesday, Oct. 13, traveling to Jackson, Tennessee, to face Union University in Gulf South Conference play. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.
