FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. | The University of Alabama in Huntsville volleyball team notched a pair of nonconference victories on Friday to open the Emmanuel College Tournament, as the squad first topped Southern Wesleyan 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-20) before winning over Clark Atlanta 3-1 (25-16, 24-26, 25-17, 25-9) to cap the day. UAH improves to 6-1 this season, while SWU slips to 2-3 and CAU dips to 0-4.
 
Game One: UAH 3, SWU 0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-20)
Turning Point
- With UAH leading Southern Wesleyan 1-0 in the match after a 25-21 first-set win, Southern Wesleyan took a late 21-18 lead in the second stanza following a five-point run. However, the Chargers outscored the Warriors 7-1 in the final eight volleys to take the set 25-22 and push the lead to 2-0 on the way to the three-set victory.
 
Inside the Box Score
- The Chargers attack was paced by Caroline Sanford with 11 kills on a .350 hitting percentage, followed by Anna Claire Johnson and Lorah Yonce with five kills apiece.
- UAH posted a team hitting percentage of .242 against SWU, as Yonce led all Chargers with five or more attacks with a .417 hitting percentage.
- Haley Hop led the Chargers with 16 digs and committed zero receiving errors, while chipping in one service ace and four assists offensively.
- In addition to leading the offense, Sanford finished with a team-high six total blocks on three block solos and three block assists.
- Sabrina Duncan and Kirsten Giles tied for the team lead in assists with 12 helpers each.
- Giles also added a team-high two service aces while also posting three kills in three total attacks.
 
Noteworthy
- Sanford's six total blocks are the most by a Charger this season.
- Hop has totaled 15 or more digs in three of UAH's six matches.
 
Game Two: UAH 3, CAU 1 (25-16, 24-26, 25-17, 25-9)
Turning Point
- After losing just its second set of the 2017 campaign in the second frame by a score of 26-24 to Clark Atlanta, UAH proceeded to take the third 25-17 and cruise to a 25-9 win in the fourth for the 3-1 match victory.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Sophomore Anna Claire Whaley paced the Chargers attack with 12 kills on a .400 hitting percentage, followed by freshmen Abby Brooks and Kennedy Sellers with nine kills apiece.
- A total of four Chargers had hitting percentages of .350 or higher with seven or more attacks, led by junior Rachel Burden with a .429 swing rate and five kills.
- Isabelle Barnes also had a strong night on the attack with seven kills and a .417 hitting percentage.
- Sabrina Duncan totaled a team-best 24 assists and five service aces to go along with three digs defensively.
- The Charger defense was led by Isabelle Feliciano with nine digs, while three diferent Chargers recorded four digs apiece in the win.
- Jordan Grammer and Sellers tied for the team lead in total blocks with two each.
 
Noteworthy
- Whaley's 12 kills and .400 hitting percentage are a career high.
- Duncan's 24 assists were her most of the season and the fifth time in which she's totaled 10 helpers or more.
 
Next Time Out
- UAH wraps up play in the Emmanuel College Tournament tomorrow with matches slated against Texas A&M International at 10:30 a.m. and Emmanuel at 1 p.m.