CLINTON, Mississippi – In a battle of unbeaten teams, the University of Alabama in Huntsville extended its unbeaten streak with a 3-0 win against USC Aiken in the GSC-PBC Crossover tournament. The win marked the second of the day for UAH after earning a 3-1 win against Augusta.
Against USC Aiken (8-1), the Chargers (8-0) took the early lead on a 4-0 start to the match with kills from Ella Schumacher and Kayla Ward, a service ace from Emily Redman and a Kayla Ward block. While each side traded runs, the Chargers pushed out into a 20-14 lead on the heels of a 5-0 run with a pair of kills from Cooper Garrett, another kill from Redman and a Carlee Lowry service ace. Though USC Aiken pushed late, UAH closed out the set with a 25-21 win. Schumacher finished the set off with five kills to lead UAH while Garrett added three and Redman provided another two.
Both sides traded points early in the second set while USC Aiken moved to a 8-4 lead against UAH. The Chargers rebounded midway through the set with a 5-0 run to take a 13-12 lead. From that point neither side gained more than a two-point margin until the Chargers pushed to set point, 24-21, before finishing off the Set 2 win, 25-22. Five Chargers scored kills through the set with Mary Grace Bundrant and Redman each hitting three.
UAH built an early lead, 7-4, in Set 3 while keeping USC Aiken at bay through the set. While USC Aiken tied the Chargers at eight points apiece, it was the last instance through the set as the ensuing UAH point gave the Blue and White a lead that would not be relinquished the remainder of the set. The Chargers scored three straight before the next USC Aiken point, but UAH followed up that point with a six-point run kickstarted by a kill from Ward to take a 17-9 lead. UAH closed out the set and the match with a final 25-21 win to move to 2-0 on the day.
IN THE STATS
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Ella Schumacher led the Chargers offensively with 10 kills. Cooper Garrett and Mary Grace Bundrant each recorded seven more kills while Emily Redman and Kayla Ward each scored six.
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Carlee Lowry and Redman each hit multiple service aces for UAH as Lowry aced four shots while Redman hit three.
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Bundrant led the defensive efforts for the Chargers with four solo blocks while Schumacher and Ward each blocked two shots.
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Garrett led UAH with 17 assists while Anna Clare Hutto added another 13.
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Defensively, libero Brooklyn Stiles compiled 12 digs through the three sets while Redman recorded another nine.
COMING UP
UAH closes out the GSC-PBC Crossover on Saturday with a noon match against Flagler. The Chargers remain on the road for another three matches to start GSC play before their next home match on Friday, September 25, against Montevallo.
