CLINTON, Mississippi – The University of Alabama in Huntsville was pushed to a fifth set for only the second time this season, but came up just shy of taking the match in a 2-3 loss against Flagler in the Chargers' third and final match of the GSC-PBC Crossover.
While the start of Set 1 was an even trade of points, Flagler (9-2) jumped out to a 18-12 advantage for the largest lead of the set. However, UAH (8-1) ran up six straight points starting off with kills from Cooper Garrett and Emily Redman, and a block from Kayla Ward before Ella Schumacher ripped off three straight kills to even the score at 19 apiece. Though the final rallies remained close, UAH outpaced Flagler to earn a Set 1 win, 25-23. Schumacher paced UAH on offense with seven kills while five other Chargers notched at least one kill.
The early exchanges of Set 2 leaned toward UAH as the Chargers took an initial 5-1 lead. Flagler, though, caught back up to UAH as each side began to trade points through the remainder of the set. Flagler ultimately managed a 8-2 run to take Set 2, 25-22, to level the score. Schumacher, again, led the UAH attack with four kills while Mary Grace Bundrant and Ward each hit three more.
Set 3 saw a flip of the previous set as Flagler took an initial 4-1 lead. UAH tied the score with a block and ensuing kill from Bundrant leveled the score at four apiece before the trade of points continued. The Chargers led by as many as four, 13-9, before Flagler eventually managed a late run to take the set, 25-22.
UAH took a three-point lead to begin Set 4 to set an early precedent as the Chargers held a lead by several points through the first half of the set as they led by as many as nine points en route to a 14-5 advantage. Flagler, however, pushed back and forced the set into extra exchanges before kills from Ward and Garrett helped give UAH a 29-27 Set 4 win to even the match, 2-2.
As close as the four sets before transpired, the fifth and final ran in similar fashion as neither side could gain more than a two-point lead at any given point. The set cut close with each side tying the score, 13-13, before Flagler took the final two points of the match to take the set 15-13.
IN THE STATS
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Ella Schumacher, Kayla Ward and Mary Grace Bundrant each hit double digit kills for UAH with 15, 12 and 10, respectively. Schumacher's 15 is a season-high for any UAH player this season.
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Cooper Garrett led the Chargers in assists with 28 while Anna Clare Hutto added another 12. UAH recorded 51 assists on the day.
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UAH hit eight service aces through the match as Carlee Lowry led the team with three while Hutto added two more.
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Bundrant led the defensive effort for UAH with six solo blocks. The Chargers recorded 10 total blocks.
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The Chargers recorded 81 digs against Flagler as Brooklyn Stiles led the effort with 21. Garrett recorded 18 while Lowry notched 14 and Emily Redman 10.
COMING UP
UAH remains on the road for its next three matches to begin GSC play. The Chargers will have three straight matches in Tennessee against Christian Brothers on Friday, September 18, followed by Union on September 19 and Trevecca on September 22.
The Chargers' next home match will be on September 25 at 6 p.m. against Montevallo.
