LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama volleyball team fell to Christian Brothers University in straight sets Tuesday night at Pruitt Hall, as the Buccaneers claimed a 3-0 Gulf South Conference victory (26-24, 25-19, 25-20).
Despite a strong offensive performance from sophomore Klára Bobánová and several late pushes, the Tigers struggled to find consistency against a Christian Brothers offense that finished the night hitting .333.
THE MATCH
Christian Brothers opened the first set with an early 3-0 advantage, but West Alabama responded behind Bobánová and its serving game. The Tigers used a five-point run sparked by two service aces from Bobánová to erase a four-point deficit and tie the set at 9-9.
The teams continued trading points throughout the opening set, with West Alabama taking a 21-19 lead following consecutive kills from Bobánová. Christian Brothers answered with a three-point run to regain the advantage, setting up a tightly contested finish. The Tigers fought off a set point with a kill from
Jazlyn Snow to even the score at 24, but the Buccaneers secured the final two points to take the opener, 26-24.
Christian Brothers carried that momentum into the second set, building an early advantage behind Alana Martinez and extending its lead to 15-6. West Alabama attempted to close the gap with contributions from
Katerina Korre,
Raven Grant and Bobánová, cutting the deficit to four points late in the set. However, the Buccaneers held off the Tigers' comeback attempt to claim the second set, 25-19.
Facing a two-set deficit, West Alabama continued battling in the third. Christian Brothers jumped ahead 4-0 before the Tigers responded with a run of their own, eventually tying the score at 6-6. The teams remained close through the middle of the set, with a block from
Duru Seber and
Cadence Goeden giving West Alabama a 15-14 advantage.
The Buccaneers responded with a four-point run to regain control at 18-15. West Alabama continued fighting, but Christian Brothers maintained its lead down the stretch and closed the match with a 25-20 third-set victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
Bobánová led the Tigers with 13 kills on a .407 hitting percentage, adding 14 digs, two service aces and two block assists. Korre followed with nine kills and five digs, while Snow contributed seven kills.
Rachele Zanini directed the West Alabama offense with 33 assists and nine digs, while
Ola Winiarek recorded three service aces.
Charlotte Kerscher added eight digs.
West Alabama finished with 39 kills, 36 assists, 51 digs and seven service aces, hitting .157 as a team.
Christian Brothers was led by Martinez, who recorded a match-high 15 kills on a .609 hitting percentage. Sarah Helms added 11 kills, while Sophia Nowacki collected 15 digs. The Buccaneers finished with 45 kills and 54 digs.
UP NEXT
West Alabama will remain at Pruitt Hall for a pair of Gulf South Conference matchups this weekend. The Tigers will host the University of Alabama in Huntsville on Friday, Oct. 30, at 6 p.m. for their annual Dig Pink match, raising awareness for breast cancer. West Alabama will then welcome Montevallo on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m. for Senior Night, honoring the program's seniors.
