LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama volleyball team continued its impressive run Tuesday night, sweeping Gulf South Conference opponent Union University 3-0 inside Pruitt Hall.
West Alabama took the match by scores of 25-8, 25-14 and 25-23, extending its winning streak to 12 consecutive matches. The Tigers also continued to build on their school record, having now won 28 consecutive sets.
The Tigers controlled the match offensively, finishing with 38 kills and a .320 hitting percentage while holding Union to 24 kills and a -.010 percentage. UWA also totaled 52 digs, seven service aces and eight team blocks.
Freshman setter
Rachele Zanini was named Player of the Match after directing the West Alabama offense with 27 assists and nine digs while also contributing five total blocks, including one solo block. Zanini added a kill in the victory.
The performance came on the same day Zanini was announced as the GSC Freshman of the Week, earning the honor for the third time this season. She previously earned back-to-back Freshman of the Week honors to open the year before teammate
Duru Seber received the award in Week 3.
Katerina Korre led the Tigers offensively with 10 kills on 20 attacks without committing an error, hitting .500 for the match. Korre also added a service ace and a block assist. Klára Bobánová followed with eight kills while hitting .412 and added two service aces, while
Jazlyn Snow finished with six kills, seven digs and five block assists.
West Alabama established control early in the opening set. With the Tigers holding an 8-5 advantage,
Ola Winiarek went to the service line and helped UWA string together seven straight points to stretch the lead to 15-5. The Tigers continued to pull away from there before taking the opening set 25-8.
Union remained within striking distance early in the second before West Alabama created separation. Bobánová sparked a lengthy run from the service line that included back-to-back aces as the Tigers turned a 5-5 tie into a commanding advantage. UWA went on to claim the second set 25-14 and move within one set of the sweep.
The Bulldogs provided their strongest challenge of the night in the third. The teams were tied at 16 before kills from Snow and Korre and a block involving Snow and Zanini helped UWA regain control. Union battled back and eventually tied the frame at 23, but consecutive attack errors gave West Alabama the final two points and a 25-23 victory to complete the sweep.
The victory pushed West Alabama's school-record streak to 28 consecutive sets won as the Tigers continued their unbeaten start to Gulf South Conference play.
West Alabama returns to Pruitt Hall on Friday, Sept. 25, when the Tigers host Auburn University at Montgomery in GSC action. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
