LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama Volleyball team opened the UWA Invitational with a pair of straight-set victories Tuesday inside Pruitt Hall, defeating Albany State and U.S. Sports University.
West Alabama opened the day with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-15) victory over Albany State before returning Tuesday evening to sweep U.S. Sports University 3-0 (25-7, 25-13, 25-16). The Tigers did not allow either opponent to reach 20 points in any of the six sets.
West Alabama 3, Albany State 0
West Alabama put together an efficient offensive performance in its opening match, finishing with 44 kills and just 10 attack errors on 100 attempts for a .340 hitting percentage. The Tigers also totaled 12 service aces while holding Albany State to a .095 hitting percentage.
Freshman setter
Rachele Zanini was named UWA's Player of the Match after directing the offense with 37 assists, 10 digs and three service aces. Zanini helped West Alabama hit above .300 in all three sets, including .364 in the opening frame.
Katerina Korre led the Tigers offensively with 10 kills while hitting .450 and added two service aces.
Raven Grant finished with eight kills and a .438 hitting percentage, while
Duru Seber added eight kills on 11 attempts to hit a match-best .727.
West Alabama took control early in the opening set and pulled away for a 25-16 victory. The Tigers were even more dominant in the second, hitting .353 while holding Albany State to .156 on their way to a 25-12 win.
Zanini helped UWA set the tone immediately in the third, opening the set with back-to-back service aces. The Tigers later used a lengthy run behind the serve of
Bailey Keef, who finished the match with four aces, to create separation before completing the sweep, 25-15. Grant recorded six kills in the final frame.
West Alabama 3, U.S. Sports University 0
West Alabama carried its momentum into Tuesday night's match, producing an even more efficient offensive performance in the 3-0 victory over U.S. Sports University.
The Tigers hit .419 as a team, totaling 38 kills against only seven attack errors. UWA also recorded 10 service aces while holding U.S. Sports University to a negative-.077 hitting percentage.
Senior
Cadence Goeden earned Player of the Match honors after leading the Tigers with nine kills on 19 attacks with only one error, finishing with a .421 hitting percentage.
Klára Bobánová followed with eight kills and a .429 hitting percentage, while Grant added eight kills and hit .333.
Gracie Huver put down five kills on eight attempts to hit .500.
UWA quickly put the opening set out of reach. With the score tied at 2-2, the Tigers scored nine consecutive points behind Korre's serve to build an 11-2 advantage. West Alabama finished the frame with 15 kills and only one error, hitting .609 in a commanding 25-7 victory.
The Tigers continued to control the match with a 25-13 victory in the second set. Zanini finished her night with 18 assists as West Alabama built a two-set advantage.
Freshman Bianca Stütz took over setting duties in the third and recorded 12 assists and two service aces. Bobánová supplied five kills in the final frame as the Tigers closed out the sweep with a 25-16 victory.
Across Tuesday's two victories, West Alabama totaled 82 kills and 22 service aces while hitting a combined .374.
The Tigers return to Pruitt Hall on Thursday, Sept. 10, to close out the UWA Invitational with two matches. West Alabama will face Talladega College at 4 p.m. before wrapping up tournament play against Miles College at 6 p.m.
