FAIRFIELD, Ala. – The University of West Alabama volleyball team bounced back, using a balanced offensive attack and contributions throughout the lineup to sweep Miles College, 3-0, inside
Knox-Windham Gymnasium.
The Tigers took the match by scores of 25-20, 25-14 and 25-20, improving to 19-2 overall while remaining 6-1 in Gulf South Conference play. UWA came out firing in the opening set, putting down 19 kills on 33 attacks while hitting .455. The Tigers committed just four attack errors in the set and used their offensive efficiency to take an early advantage with a 25-20 win.
The Tigers carried that momentum into the second set. UWA recorded 17 kills while hitting .419 and held Miles to nine kills and a .143 hitting percentage. UWA created separation and rolled to a 25-14 victory, taking a 2-0 advantage in the match.
Miles made its strongest push of the night in the third set. The two sides traded momentum throughout the set that featured 12 ties and six lead changes, but the Tigers remained steady down the stretch. UWA eventually pulled away for another 25-20 win to complete the straight-set victory.
UWA's depth was on display throughout the match, as 13 Tigers saw action in the victory. Eleven different players recorded at least one kill, giving UWA contributions from nearly every part of its lineup.
Cadence Goeden earned Player of the Match honors after leading the Tigers with 10 kills on 23 attacks for a .348 hitting percentage. Goeden reached double figures despite appearing in just two sets.
Klára Bobánová and
Raven Grant followed with nine kills apiece. Bobánová hit .467 with just two errors on 15 swings, while Grant finished at .316.
Jazlyn Snow added seven kills without an attack error, hitting .778 on nine attempts, while
Ola Winiarek put down five kills on seven swings for a .714 hitting percentage.
Rachele Zanini directed the offense with 37 assists while adding two service aces and five digs.
Charlotte Kerscher led the Tigers defensively with 11 digs while also contributing four assists and a service ace.
As a team, UWA finished with 54 kills and just 11 attack errors on 106 attempts for a .406 hitting percentage. The Tigers also totaled 44 digs and four service aces while holding Miles to 31 kills and a .188 hitting percentage.
The Tigers return home for their next matchup, welcoming Trevecca Nazarene University to Pruitt Hall. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
