LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama volleyball team earned a key Gulf South Conference victory Friday night, sweeping Trevecca Nazarene University 3-0 inside Pruitt Hall. The Tigers claimed the match by scores of 25-16, 25-20 and 25-22.
West Alabama entered Friday's contest tied atop the GSC standings with Trevecca and Alabama Huntsville, with all three teams holding 6-1 conference records. The victory improves the Tigers to 20-2 overall and 7-1 in league play while extending their unbeaten home record to 10 matches.
The Tigers controlled the opening set with a 25-16 victory before holding off the Trojans in the second, 25-20. Trevecca challenged West Alabama in the third set, but the Tigers closed out the match with a 25-22 win to complete the sweep.
West Alabama delivered an efficient offensive performance, recording 49 kills with just nine attack errors on 121 attempts for a .331 hitting percentage. The Tigers also finished with 60 digs and eight blocks while limiting Trevecca to a .169 hitting percentage.
The Tigers featured notable adjustments to their lineup Friday night, including
Raven Grant taking on a role at outside hitter and
Charlotte Kerscher making her first start at libero.
Grant contributed three kills and three digs, while Kerscher helped lead the defensive effort with a match-high 15 digs and three assists.
Klára Bobánová earned Player of the Match honors after leading the Tigers offensively with a match-high 17 kills on 28 attempts and just one error, finishing with a .571 hitting percentage. Bobánová also added seven digs and three blocks.
Katerina Korre followed with 12 kills, four digs and two blocks, while
Jazlyn Snow contributed eight kills on a .368 hitting percentage.
Duru Seber added six kills while hitting .455 and led the Tigers at the net with five blocks.
Rachele Zanini directed the offense with 41 assists, nine digs and two service aces, while
Ola Winiarek added 13 digs.
Trevecca was led by Kaitlyn Grant and Kayla Bullard with nine kills apiece, while Emma Schnitzer finished with eight. Lily VanBebber recorded a team-high 12 digs for the Trojans. The loss moves Trevecca to 9-9 overall and 6-2 in GSC play.
West Alabama returns to Pruitt Hall on Saturday to face Lee University in another Gulf South Conference matchup. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.
