MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The University of West Alabama Volleyball team swept Day One of the Bobcat Classic, picking up wins over Georgia College & State and Albany State on Friday.

UWA (2-0) swept host, Georgia College & State (0-2) to begin the day, before defeating Albany State (0-2), 3-1, in the final match of the evening. 

This marks the first time since 2017 that West Alabama Volleyball has began a season 2-0.

MATCH ONE: UWA 3, GCSU 0

The Tigers controlled their opening match against the Bobcats. Offensively, West Alabama accumulated 35 kills on a .208 hitting percentage while recording eight service aces. Defensively, UWA held GCSU to a .191 hitting percentage, picking up six blocks along the way.

It was a balanced offensive attack for the Tigers as setter Rachele Zanini spread the ball around. Zanini dished out 24 assist in her West Alabama debut while Ola Winiarek, Klara Bobanova, and Jazlyn Snow combined for 26 kills. 

The Tigers got out to a fast start in set one as a block from Zanini and Duru Seber catapulted UWA to a 9-4 lead. The trio of Bobanova, Snow, and Katerina Korre controlled the set offensively for West Alabama as they combined for 11 kills in the game. Offensive production from the Bobcats' Mallorie Swartz and Avery Huyck, and Sierra Poland kept them in the set until Bobanova won it for the Tigers, 25-21, with her fourth kill of the set.

The second set was a similar story to the first. UWA pulled out in front early and held a comfortable lead for majority of the game. Snow continued to have a productive match as she totaled four kills on seven attacks in the set to lead the Tigers to another 25-21 set win.

In the third set, the West Alabama offense ran through Winiarek. The junior Outside Hitter found her groove in the game, delivering six kills on nine swings. Behind Winiarek, the Tigers got out to another fast start, creating enough separation to cruise to a 25-20 win to clinch the match, 3-0.

MATCH TWO: UWA 3, ASU 1

West Alabama's offense was clicking on all cylinders against Albany State. The Tigers racked up 46 kills on an efficient .307 hitting percentage, while also serving up 14 service aces. Winiarek led the charge with a team-high 11 kills on a .290 hitting percentage while Bobanova and Snow followed closely behind with nine kills each. 

The Tigers fell behind to begin set one, struggling to contain the Golden Rams' Jarianis Paris. Paris put down seven kills in the set to guide an Albany State team that recorded a .395 hitting percentage in the game. Behind Paris, ASU took the first set, 25-21.

After dropping the first set, UWA dominated the remainder of the match, beginning with a 25-16 win in set two. The Tigers hit .435 in the second with, Zanini dishing out assist after assist. 

In the third set, Bobanova and Snow combined for nine kills on eleven swings to lead West Alabama to a comfortable, 25-14, set win. Zanini and Bailey Keef also anchored UWA's defensive efforts as they helped hold ASU to a .138 hitting percentage in the game.

The Tigers defense was stout once again in the fourth set. West Alabama held Albany State to a .176 hitting percentage while their offense turned in a .242 mark. Winiarek and Korre combined for six kills on 15 swings to lead UWA to a 25-14 set win to clinch the match, 3-1.

West Alabama will conclude the Bobcat Classic tomorrow with contests against Carson Newman at 8:00 a.m. CST and Southern Wesleyan at 3:30 p.m. CST.