LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama volleyball team returns to Pruitt Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 27, to host Christian Brothers University in Gulf South Conference action. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT as the Tigers look to extend their unbeaten home record.
West Alabama enters the matchup at 24-3 overall and 11-2 in conference play following a successful road weekend against Valdosta State and Auburn Montgomery. The Tigers have won three consecutive matches and remain undefeated at Pruitt Hall this season with an 11-0 home record.
Tuesday's contest opens a three-match homestand for West Alabama as the Tigers continue their push through the final stretch of the GSC regular season.
THE MATCHUP
West Alabama Volleyball vs. Christian Brothers
West Alabama: 24-3 (11-2 GSC) | Christian Brothers: 7-19 (3-11 GSC)
Tuesday, Oct. 27 | 6 p.m. CT
Pruitt Hall | Livingston, Ala.
LAST TIME OUT
West Alabama returns home after collecting two conference victories on the road, beginning with a five-set battle against Valdosta State on Friday. The Tigers rallied from a 2-1 deficit to claim the final two sets and secure the victory before traveling to Montgomery for Saturday's matchup against Auburn Montgomery.
The Tigers completed the weekend with a straight-set sweep of AUM, winning 25-17, 25-21 and 25-9. West Alabama finished the contest hitting .309 as a team while recording 14 service aces.
Klára Bobánová led the offensive effort with 15 kills and a .565 hitting percentage, while Katerina Korre added 10 kills and three service aces. Duru Seber contributed five kills on seven attempts without an attacking error, finishing with a .714 hitting percentage.
Rachele Zanini directed the offense with 28 assists and four service aces as West Alabama closed the match with a dominant third set, hitting .423 while holding AUM to just nine points.
THE OPPONENT
Christian Brothers enters Tuesday's matchup at 7-19 overall and 3-11 in GSC play after dropping consecutive conference matches to Trevecca Nazarene and Lee over the weekend.
The Buccaneers are led offensively by Ana Clara Sacca Beltran, who has recorded 187 kills this season, averaging 2.13 kills per set. Alana Martinez follows with 148 kills, while Sarah Helms has contributed 143 kills and leads the team with 82 total blocks.
Defensively, Sophia Nowacki has anchored Christian Brothers with 488 digs, averaging 5.36 per set. Emma Pomaret leads the Buccaneers with 343 assists, while Carleiny Morillo has added 244.
Christian Brothers enters the contest averaging 10.23 kills and 17.15 digs per set while hitting .132 as a team.
SERIES HISTORY
Tuesday's contest marks the second meeting between West Alabama and Christian Brothers this season.
The Tigers claimed the first meeting on Sept. 29 in Memphis, Tennessee, earning a straight-set victory over the Buccaneers. West Alabama controlled the opening set 25-14 before holding off Christian Brothers in the second, 25-22, and closing the match with a 25-19 victory in the third.
West Alabama will look to complete the regular-season sweep of Christian Brothers and continue its success against the Buccaneers.
WHAT TO WATCH
West Alabama enters Tuesday's matchup with one of its strongest offensive performances of the season behind it, continuing to showcase a balanced attack and consistent production at the service line.
The Tigers are averaging 13.43 kills per set with a .273 team hitting percentage. West Alabama has also recorded 200 service aces this season, averaging 2.13 per set.
Bobánová continues to lead the Tigers offensively with 315 kills and a .319 hitting percentage, averaging 3.54 kills per set. Korre follows with 256 kills, while Jazlyn Snow has contributed 181 kills and a .353 hitting percentage.
Zanini remains a key part of the Tigers' offensive production, totaling 929 assists and averaging 10.21 per set.
With an 11-0 record at Pruitt Hall, West Alabama will look to maintain its home-court advantage as the Tigers begin a stretch of three consecutive conference matches in Livingston.
UP NEXT
Following Tuesday's matchup, West Alabama will remain at Pruitt Hall for two additional Gulf South Conference contests.
The Tigers will welcome Alabama Huntsville on Friday, Oct. 30, with first serve scheduled for 6 p.m. CT before hosting Montevallo on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m. CT for Senior Night.
