NASHVILLE – The University of Alabama in Huntsville finished a two-day, three-match slate in the Ray Thrasher Classic with a 3-0 win against Lincoln Memorial (2-1) Saturday afternoon.
The Chargers (3-0) started off Saturday's match with a hotly contested first set where neither side earned more than a three-point lead at any given point until the very end of the set. UAH broke free in the final exchanges to go on a six-point run to earn a 25-21 win. Kayla Ward paced UAH with five kills and a block assist while Ella Schumacher and Emily Redman each notched four kills in the opening frame.
Set 2 played out in similar fashion as the first, though LMU managed to push ahead after a 3-3 tie to lead until UAH moved ahead on a service ace from Brooklyn Stiles to take the lead, 18-17. While LMU tied the score twice through the ensuing point exchanges, the Chargers closed Set 2 on a 5-1 advantage as Cooper Garrett and Schumacher each scored a pair of kills while Redman added the fifth to take a consecutive 25-21 set win.
The early portion of the third set fell the way of LMU as the Railsplitters took and held the lead until the Chargers moved ahead, 20-19, on a three-point run courtesy a kill from Ward and back-to-back service aces from Mary Vandergriff. Though the score came closer than the previous two sets along the final stretch, the result was the same as UAH closed the book on LMU, 25-23, with a final kill from Garrett as the Chargers remained unbeaten in their season opening tournament.
IN THE STATS
COMING UP
The Chargers return to Huntsville as UAH hosts the three-day UAH Invitational, sponsored by Bojangles, beginning Thursday, September 3, at 6 p.m. against Harding. UAH will follow-up with matches against Spring Hill College on Friday at 2:30 p.m. and a 4:45 p.m. match against Mars Hill on Saturday.
