HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – On Senior Night at Spragins Hall on Tuesday, senior
Jessica Ruple notched her 11th double-double of the season with a team-high 16 kills and 12 digs as the University of Alabama in Huntsville volleyball team dropped a 3-2 (25-20, 25-21, 22-25, 18-25, 12-15) decision to Alabama A&M. With the loss, UAH drops to 9-24 on the year while Alabama A&M improves to 12-17 overall.
Prior to the match, head coach
Laura Taube and assistant coach Joan Copeland honored this year's four Lady Charger seniors,
Carrie Brown,
Kaeli McCaghren, Ruple and
Danyelle Smith. All four seniors saw significant action, led by Ruple's 16 kills and 12 digs while McCaghren added 12 digs. Brown and Smith posted 11 and four kills, respectively.
After UAH jumped out to a 2-0 set lead, the Lady Chargers gave up the third, fourth and fifth games to Alabama A&M. In the first set, neither squad could manage more than a one point lead until UAH reeled off four consecutive points to take a 14-10 advantage. The Lady Bulldogs fought back to tie the score at 18-18 but could not regain the lead as UAH took seven of the next nine points to claim the opening set, 25-20.
The battle for an advantage continued throughout the match, including the second set in which UAH finally broke through late to take a 20-16 advantage en route to a 25-21 victory. From there, Alabama A&M took the third and fourth games with scores of 25-22 and 25-18, respectively, forcing a decisive fifth set.
In the fifth set and after UAH took the first two points, Alabama A&M grabbed seven of the next eight points to jump out to a 7-3 lead. The Lady Chargers fought back to close the gap to 10-8 in Alabama A&M's favor but ultimately dropped the set, 15-12.
As a team, Alabama A&M posted a .271 hitting percentage while holding UAH to a .211 clip.
Up next, UAH will make its first appearance in the Gulf South Conference Tournament since 2005. The Lady Chargers will be the No. 6 seed and face No. 3-seeded Christian Brothers in the opening quarterfinal round in Pensacola, Fla. on Friday, Nov. 11.
