2013 BLAZER VOLLEYBALL Match Notes

Transcription

1 2013 Schedule UAB/Samford Volleyball Challenge Aug. 30 vs. MERCER BARTOW ARENA W, 3-0 vs. MINNESOTA BARTOW ARENA L, 3-0 Aug. 31 vs. PRESBYTERIAN BARTOW ARENA W, 3-0 vs. JACKSONVILLE ST. BARTOW ARENA W, 3-1 Sept. 4 vs. SAMFORD BARTOW ARENA W, 3-0 Middle Tennesse Invitational Sept. 6 vs. North Dakota Murfressboro, Tenn. W, 3-0 Sept. 7 vs. Austin Peay Murfreesboro, Tenn. W, 3-0 vs. Virginia Tech Murfreesboro, Tenn. L, 3-1 Sept. 10 at Georgia State Atlanta, Ga. W, 3-0 Hoosier Classic Sept. 13 vs. Tennessee State Bloomington, Ind. W, 3-0 Sept. 14 vs. Wyoming Bloomington, Ind. W, 3-2 at Indiana Bloomington, Ind. L, 3-0 Sept. 17 at Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tenn. W, 3-1 Bruin Classic Sept. 20 vs. Arkansas State Nashville, Tenn. W, 3-0 Sept. 21 vs. Mississippi State Nashville, Tenn. L, 3-2 at Belmont Nashville, Tenn. L, 3-2 Sept. 27 vs. SOUTHERN MISS* BARTOW ARENA W, 3-2 Sept. 29 vs. TULSA* BARTOW ARENA L, 3-2 Oct. 4 at East Carolina* Greenville, N.C. W, 3-1 Oct. 6 at Middle Tennessee* Murfreesboro, Tenn. L, 3-1 Oct. 11 at FIU* Miami, Fla. L, 3-0 Oct. 13 at Florida Atlantic* Boca Raton, Fla. W, 3-0 Oct. 18 vs. NORTH TEXAS* BARTOW ARENA W, 3-0 Oct. 20 vs. MARSHALL* BARTOW ARENA L, 3-0 Oct. 25 at UTEP* El Paso, Texas W, 3-1 Oct. 27 at Alabama A&M Huntsville, Ala. W, 3-0 Oct. 29 vs. ALABAMA STATE BARTOW ARENA W, 3-0 Nov. 1 vs. TULANE* BARTOW ARENA L, 3-1 Nov. 5 vs. ALABAMA BARTOW ARENA L, 3-0 Nov. 8 at UTSA* San Antonio, Texas L, 3-0 Nov. 10 at Louisiana Tech* Ruston, La. W, 3-0 Nov. 15 vs. RICE* BARTOW ARENA L, 3-0 Nov. 17 vs. CHARLOTTE* BARTOW ARENA W, 3-1 Nov C-USA Tournament Murfreesboro, Tenn. TBD * Conference USA match. Home matches in BOLD CAPS. All times local to site and subject to change. Media Relations Associate Athletics Director...Norm Reilly Assistant Director/VB Contact... Kristin Watkins ...kristinw@uab.edu Phone:... (205) Assistant Director...Tray Littlefield Assistant Director...Anthony Prisco 2013 Conference USA Touranment UAB Blazers (7-7 C-USA) AT 2013 C-USA Tournament When: Thursday, Nov Sunday, Nov. 24 Where: Murfreesboro, Tenn. TV: C-USA Digital Network Volleyball Opens C-USA Tournament Against Rice The seventh-seed UAB volleyball team will begin play in the 2013 Conference USA Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 21 in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The Blazers are matched up with 10th-seed Rice. UAB (20-13, 7-7 C-USA) and Rice (11-18, 7-7 C-USA) are slated as the nightcap, beginning at 7 p.m. CT on the first day of play. The two teams have met once before in the tournament back in The Blazers came away with a 3-1 win over the Owls. The teams recently squared-off, with Rice taking a 3-0 win last Friday. Eight teams will play on the first day of the tournament, while the top four seeds each receive a first-round bye and will await the winners from the first-round. UTSA was pegged as the top seed overall after finishing 21-7 overall and 13-1 in C-USA. UAB s half of the bracket includes second-seed Tulane (26-3, 12-2), who they would face on Friday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. CT if they advance past Rice. Also in the Blazers half of the bracket are third-seed Tulsa (23-6, 12-2 C-USA), sixth-seed Middle Tennessee (17-12, 8-6 C- USA) and 11th-seed FIU (12-16, 6-8 C-USA). Last Time Out The UAB volleyball team registered a 3-1 victory against Conference USA foe Charlotte on Sunday afternoon in Bartow Arena. Sunday s match marked the squad s final home game of the 2013 regular season and the final one for seniors Rachel Fairbanks, Becca Howard, and Ally Slaughter. They are phenomenal kids, in every aspect, head coach Kerry Messersmith said of the seniors. They will be greatly missed. They have been key players for us. Ally has started since she was a freshman, at least part-time. Rachel has been a phenomenal libero for us, leading the conference in digs per game, right now. Becca, not enough could be said about Becca. This has been her year to shine and she did. UAB (20-13, 7-7) fell in early hole to Charlotte (12-17, 2-12), dropping the first set, The Blazers would not be denied on Senior Day, though. UAB came out and won each of the next three sets to take home the victory. It s always good to get a win, commented Messersmith. The win is not the important thing for us, it s the fact that we played well. We played with a lot of emotion and energy. I think we just looked like we were in a little bit of a rhythm offensively that we haven t been in since Becca went down. Junior Kiriani Hirini led the way for the Blazers, recording 19 kills on the day. Fellow junior Sara Rishell had 18 kills, as well. Slaughter, in her final regular season match at Bartow Arena, tallied her second straight double-double (13 kills, 12 digs). Fairbanks led the team with 21 digs, while Howard had a team-best 57 assists

2 Conference USA Team Conference Overall Tulsa UTSA Tulane North Texas Middle Tennessee Marshall UAB UTEP Southern Miss Rice FIU Florida Atlantic East Carolina Charlotte Louisiana Tech HONORS & AWARDS Rachel Fairbanks - Second-Team All-Conference USA - Conference USA Libero of the Year - C-USA Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 30) - C-USA Co-Defensive Player of Week (Oct. 28) Becca Howard - Second-Team All-Conference USA - C-USA Setter of the Week (Sept. 2) - C-USA Setter of the Week (Sept. 9) - UAB/Samford Challenge All-Tournament Team - Hoosier Classic All-Tournament Team Sara Rishell - Second-Team All-Conference USA - C-USA Defensiver Player of the Week (Sept. 9) - Middle Tennessee Invite all-tournament Team Bethanie Thomas - Conference USA All-Academic Team Sam Skinner - First-Team All-Conference USA Preseason All-C-USA Team - UAB/Samford Challenge All-Tournament Team - Hoosier Classic All-Tournament Team - Bruin Classic All-Tournament Team Scouting the Owls Rice (11-18, 7-7 C-USA) heads into the tournament with two-straight wins, including a 3-0 win over UAB last Friday. Jullian Humphrey leads the team with 3.06 kills per set and 1.13 blocks per set. Daniela Arenas leads the defense with 4.25 digs per set. Fairbanks Tabbed C-USA Libero of the Year Senior Rachel Fairbanks made UAB volleyball history after being named the 2013 Conference USA Libero of the Year, the league announced on Wednesday. Fairbanks became the first player at UAB to earn the libero of the year honor. The Katy, Texas native has been a solid contributor on defense over the last two seasons for the Blazers. In her senior year, Fairbanks has played in all 117 sets for UAB. She leads the team in digs (586) and is second in service aces (28). Among the conference, she ranks third in C-USA in digs per set with 5.01 and is 17th in service aces per set with Conference USA Tournament History The Blazers were Conference USA champions in 2006 and finished as the runner-up in 2007 and Last season, UAB made it to the semifinals of the conference tournament, but fell to eventual champion Tulsa, 3-0. All-Conference USA Honors Four members of the UAB volleyball team, Sam Skinner, Rachel Fairbanks, Becca Howard and Sara Rishell, have been selected to 2013 All-Conference USA Teams, the league announced on Tuesday. The Blazers were one of just three teams in the conference to have four honorees selected to the all-conference teams. Tulane and Tulsa each had four members, as well. Thomas Named to C-USA All-Academic Team Junior Bethanie Thomas was named to the 2013 Conference USA Volleyball All- Academic Team, the league announced on Monday. Thomas was one of 11 players selected. Thomas, a native of Huntsville, Ala., excels in the classroom where she holds a 3.93 GPA in civil engineering. A transfer from South Carolina, she was previously named to the SEC Honor Roll as a freshman and sophomore. Blazers Among the Ranks UAB is collectively hitting at a clip of.247 in 2013, which is third in Conference USA and 49th in the nation. Among C-USA teams, UAB ranks second in aces per set (1.33) and blocks per set (2.47). Individually, UAB has a player ranked in the top 50 nationally in three different categories. Ranking third in digs per set in C-USA is senior libero Rachel Fairbanks. She is averaging 5.01 digs per set, which is 34th in the country. Sophomore Sam Skinner has continued where she left off her freshman season. Skinner currently ranks 29th in points per set (4.73) and kills per set (4.22). In C- USA rankings she is ranked third in points per set and fourth in kills per set. Junior Sara Rishell is ranked second in C-USA in blocks with 1.17 per set. No Sophomore Slump for Skinner Sophomore Sam Skinner, a preseason All-USA Team selection, has continued where she left off her freshman year. So far this season Skinner has amassed 371 kills in 25 matches. She currently ranks 29th in the nation with an average of 4.22 kills per set. Skinner had a career-best streak of 10-straight double-digit kill matches going ealier this season. Her streak was the longest since the 2007 season, when Ivana Bozic tallied a 21-match streak and Casey Dent hit double-figures in 15-straight. She has also recorded double-doubles in four matches during the 2013 season.

3 Double-Doubles Player 2013 #2 Amber Treace 2 Last: 43a, 10d vs. Tulane (11/2/13) #3 Becca Howard 10 Last: 44a, 10d at Florida Atlantic (10/13/13) #9 Ally Slaughter 1 Last: 10k, 10d vs. Southern Miss (9/27/13) #21 Kiriana Hirini 1 Last: 13k, 11d vs. Mississippi State (9/21/13) #23 Bethanie Thomas 2 Last: 22k, 12d vs. Tulsa (9/29/13) #33 Sam Skinner 4 Last: 26k, 13d vs. Wyoming (9/14/13) Numbers to Watch 39 The number of assists Becca Howard needs to move into seventh all-time at UAB. She is currently eighth with 2,411 assists in her career. 1,372 Total number of digs Rachel Fairbanks has amassed in her career at UAB. She currently ranks eighth, needing 9 more to move into seventh..345 The current hitting percentage of junior Kiriana Hirini. Her season average ranks eighth in UAB history. (minumum 500 attempts) 1 How many more block assists Sara Rishell needs to rank ninth all-time in a single season. Rishell has put down 111 block assists this season. 586 Total number of digs for Rachel Fairbanks in She currently is tied for fifth in digs for a single season. Fairbanks needs just six more to move into fourth. Blazers Blocking Brigade In the latest NCAA rankings, UAB is 65th in the nation in blocks as a team. The Blazers are averaging 2.47 blocks per set so far this season. Leading UAB at the net is junior Sara Rishell. She currently holds an average of 1.17 blocks per set, which ranks second in C-USA. Rishell has recorded a career-high nine blocks against three-time defending C-USA champion Tulsa. Diggin It Senior libero Rachel Fairbanks has been solid defensively for the Blazers. She was named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 30 for grabbing a career-best 32 digs for an average of 6.40 digs per set in both matches against Southern Miss and Tulsa. Fairbanks earned the distinction again, when she was named Co-Defensively Player of the Week on Oct. 28 after tallying 37 in wins over UTEP and Alabama A&M. Fairbanks is currently averaging 5.01 digs per set on the season. That mark ranks her third in the conference and 34th in the nation. She has amassed 1,372 digs in her career. She moved into ninth all-time at UAB and is just four digs away from eighth in history. Hot Hitting Hirini Junior Kiriana Hirini is the team s most efficient hitter, carrying an attack percentage of.345 that ranks sixth in the conference and 80th in the nation. UAB is hitting.247 as a team to rank 49th in the country and third in the league. Howard s Helpers With 2,411 career assists, senior Becca Howard moved into eighth all-time in UAB history. Howard took over setter responsibilities this season after splitting time her first three years. She has been outstanding with 1087assists so far in Her average of assists is second in Conference USA and 15th in the nation. Howard set a career-high in assists, after serving up 54 in four sets against Jacksonville State on Aug. 31. She recently bettered that with 61 in a four-set match with ECU. Howard has recorded 50+ assists in six matches this season. Along with assisting the fleet of Blazers hitters, Howard helps out defensively. She currently has 10 double-doubles on the season with a combination of assists and digs. Conference Weekly Honors Senior setter Becca Howard earned Conference USA Setter of the Week honors for her performance in the UAB/Samford Volleyball Challenge. It was Howard s first conference honor. She dished out 152 assists in the four games to lead all players. Her 54 in the final match against Jacksonville State set a new career-high. Howard had a wellrounded weekend as she nabbed 31 digs and landed five aces. Senior Becca Howard and junior Sara Rishell were awarded Conference USA Volleyball Player of the Week honors. It is the second-straight week that UAB has had a player selected, as Howard was C-USA Setter of the Week last week. Howard averaged assists, 1.46 digs and 0.85 blocks per set as she continues to run the Blazers offense efficiently. She tallied 148 helpers in the four-match span last week, including a week-high 45 assists against Virginia Tech Saturday. Howard also came up with 10 digs, for her second double-double of the 2013 season, and added a career-high five blocks. Rishell collected 24 total blocks (4 solos/20 assisted) for an average of 1.85 blocks per set last week. She also accounted for 2.92 kills and 4.00 points per set, while hitting.325 for the Blazers. Her offensive and defensive production earned her a place on the Middle Tennessee Invitational All-Tournament Team. Senior libero Rachel Fairbanks was tabbed the Conference USA Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 30. Fairbanks, a 2012 C-USA second team selection, helped UAB to a 1-1 start in Conference USA play this past weekend. In the two matches, Fairbanks scooped up 64 total digs for an average of 6.40 per set She set a new career-high with 32 digs in the conference opener on Friday and matched the 32-dig performance against three-time defending league champion Tulsa. She tallied the most digs of all players in the two matches. Also

4 Statistical Leaders Kills (per set) Sam Skinner 4.22 Hitting Percentage Kiriana Hirini.345 Assists (per set) Becca Howard Blocks (per set) Sara Rishell 1.17 Digs (per set) Rachel Fairbanks 5.01 AVCA Coaches Poll Team Votes Record 1. Texas (39) Penn State (16) Washington (5) Missouri Stanford Nebraska Florida Southern California San Diego Colorado State Minnesota Hawai i Duke North Carolina Wisconsin Kentucky Michigan State Michigan Florida State Illinois BYU Kansas California Iowa State Purdue Others Receiving Votes and appearing on two or more ballots: Cal State Northridge 98; Marquette 69; Oregon 59; Ohio 31; Western Kentucky 28; Arizona 22; Northwestern 3; St. Mary s (CA) 3; UC Santa Barbara 2 contributing offensively for UAB, Fairbanks added five assists, two service aces and a kill on the weekend. All-Tournament Selections UAB had two players selected to the UAB/Samford All-Tournament Team. Outside hitter Sam Skinner led the Blazers with 53 kills over the weekend. She hit in double-digits in three of the four matches, including 17 against #6 Minnesota. Becca Howard was also selected for the Blazers after she notched 152 assists for an average of per set. Juniors Kirina Hirini and Sara Rishell were named to the Middle Tennessee Invitational All-Tournament Team. This is the first all-tournament honor for both this season. The UAB volleyball team (6-2) completed the tournament with two wins and one loss over the weekend. Over the three matches, Hirini added 10 blocks to her 30 kills and hit a team high clip of.457. Hirini had one of her best matches of the season on Saturday against Virginia Tech. She hit an impressive.583 attack percentage, landing 15 kills and added eight blocks to lead the Blazers. Rishell led UAB with 19 blocks on the weekend. She recorded a careerhigh eight against North Dakota and had at least five in each of the three matches. Rishell was also strong offensively, hitting in double-figures in the matches against North Dakota (11) and Virginia Tech (10). Sophomore outside hitter Sam Skinner and senior Becca Howard were named to the Hoosier Classic All-Tournament Team for their performances over the weekend. Skinner finished with 47 kills and recorded two doubledoubles in the three matches. Howard served up 100 assists and 34 digs, also scoring a double-double in two matches. Returning Talent The Blazers are returning eight players, including three starters from the 2012 squad. Among them is Conference USA Freshman of the Year Sam Skinner. Skinner was second on the team with 253 kills. She was named to the Preseason All-C-USA Team. Also returning from last season s starting lineup is libero Rachel Fairbanks and outside hitter Ally Slaughter. Both are seniors this year. Fairbanks tallied 653 digs last season and was second on the team with 25 service aces. Slaughter led the team in aces with 28 and added 183 kills. Fresh Faces The Green and Gold added two transfers in the offseason that will help fill holes left by the five seniors from last season. Bethanie Thomas joined the team after leaving South Carolina. Thomas is a versatile outside hitter that will challenge for a starting role. Sara Rishell was the Patriot League Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in her first season at American University. She will look to make an immediate impact as a middle blocker. UAB also brought in four freshman that will challenge for time on the court. They are Gabby Deshotel, Mandy Glon, Hannah Kowal and Amber Treace. Look to see all four be called upon throughout the season. Messersmith Magic In her 26th season overall on the sidelines, head coach Kerry Messersmith has continued to show success year in and year out. Now in her eighth year with the Blazers, Messersmith owns a record of at UAB. Her.631 winning percentage is the best in UAB volleyball history. For her career as a head coach, Messersmith is on the sidelines.

5 Numerical Roster No. Name Position Height Class Hometown (Last School) 1 Sara Rishell MB 6-2 Jr. Smithsburg, Md. (American University) 2 Amber Treace S 6-0 Fr. Spanish Fort, Ala. (Spanish Fort HS) 3 Becca Howard S 5-9 Sr. Tampa, Fla. (Plant HS) 4 Rachel Fairbanks L 5-8 Sr. Katy, Texas (Cinco Ranch HS) 7 Gabby Deshotel MB 5-11 Fr. Daphne, Ala. (Bayside Academy) 8 Emma Schroer S 5-10 R-Fr. Ogallala, Neb. (Ogallala HS) 9 Ally Slaughter OH 5-10 Sr. Pelham, Ala. (Pelham HS) 10 Hannah Kowal OH 5-11 Fr. Birmingham, Ala. (Oak Mountain HS) 11 Lindsay Simmons MB/OH 6-0 So. Danville, Ala. (Danville HS) 12 Mariah McCallum DS 5-5 So. Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (Nease HS) 17 Garielle Talley DS 5-9 R-So. Orlando, Fla. (Virginia Tech) 21 Kiriana Hirini MB 6-1 Jr. Tauranga, New Zealand (Long Beach State Univ.) 23 Bethanie Thomas OH 6-1 Jr. Huntsville, Ala. (South Carolina) 24 Mandy Glon OPP/MB 6-3 Fr. St. Charles, Mo. (Francis Howell HS) 33 Sam Skinner OH/MB 5-10 So. Birmingham, Ala. (Oak Mountain HS) Head Coach: Kerry Messersmith Assistant Coach: Bailey Coleman Assistant Coach: Shawn Matthews Alphabetical Roster No. Name Position Height Class Hometown (Last School) 7 Gabby Deshotel MB 5-11 Fr. Daphne, Ala. (Bayside Academy) 4 Rachel Fairbanks L 5-8 Sr. Katy, Texas (Cinco Ranch HS) 24 Mandy Glon OPP/MB 6-3 Fr. St. Charles, Mo. (Francis Howell HS) 21 Kiriana Hirini MB 6-1 Jr. Tauranga, New Zealand (Long Beach State Univ.) 3 Becca Howard S 5-9 Sr. Tampa, Fla. (Plant HS) 10 Hannah Kowal OH 5-11 Fr. Birmingham, Ala. (Oak Mountain HS) 12 Mariah McCallum DS 5-5 So. Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (Nease HS) 1 Sara Rishell MB 6-2 Jr. Smithsburg, Md. (American University) 8 Emma Schroer S 5-10 R-Fr. Ogallala, Neb. (Ogallala HS) 11 Lindsay Simmons MB/OH 6-0 So. Danville, Ala. (Danville HS) 33 Sam Skinner OH/MB 5-10 So. Birmingham, Ala. (Oak Mountain HS) 9 Ally Slaughter OH 5-10 Sr. Pelham, Ala. (Pelham HS) 17 Gabrielle Talley DS 5-9 R-So Orlando, Fla. (Virginia Tech) 23 Bethanie Thomas OH 6-1 Jr. Huntsville, Ala. (South Carolina) 2 Amber Treace S 6-0 Fr. Spanish Fort, Ala. (Spanish Fort HS) Head Coach: Kerry Messersmith Assistant Coach: Bailey Coleman Assistant Coach: Shawn Matthews Pronunciation Guide Gabby Deshotel (De-SHOW-tle) Kiriana Hirini (keer-e-an-uh heer-e-nee) Mariah McCallum (muh-rye-uh) Emma Schroer (Sh-WORE)

6 Head Coach Kerry Messersmith Eighth Season Chadron 86 Entering her eighth season at the helm of the UAB program, Kerry Messersmith has showcased continued success in leading the Blazers, evident by four 23-plus win seasons and seven straight seasons finishing.500 or better in Conference USA action. Leading the Green and Gold to their second 20 win season in a row, Messersmith helped put UAB at the top of the conference with a second place finish in C-USA. They Blazers finished and were 11-5 in conference play. In 2011, the Blazers were yet again one of the top programs in the league, finishing second in the standings at 23-9 overall and 13-7 against C-USA foes as Messersmith earned the C-USA Co-Coach of the Year award for the first time leading the Blazers. The 13 victories in conference action tied Messersmith s 2008 squad for the most in program history and the Green and Gold also recorded a 13-match win streak last season, the second longest in UAB lore. Messersmith reached a legendary milestone during the 2011 campaign, earning her 600th career coaching victory when UAB defeated Rice, 3-1, on October 23 at Bartow Arena. Entering her 25th season on the sidelines, Messersmith boasts a career record of (.651). In the two seasons prior to Messersmith s arrival in 2006, the Blazers were a combined 15-37, including a 1-24 campaign in The program had never won a Conference USA Championship and had never earned a berth in the NCAA tournament. In the six seasons since she set foot in Birmingham, UAB has made three appearances in the C-USA Championship finals, competed in two NCAA tournaments and posted an overall record of (67-37 C-USA). Messersmith s.645 winning percentage at the school is the highest in program history. The Blazers posted two AVCA All-Midwest Region selections in Sam Serley (first team) and Heather Thomas (honorable mention) during the 2011 campaign. Serley and Thomas were also recognized by the conference, earning first and second team honors, respectively. In addition, six times a player won C-USA Player of the Week accolades, five coming on defense. Messersmith has guided numerous players to notch a spot in several statistics in the UAB record book. Most recently, Thomas, a 2012 graduate, set both the single season (631) and career (2,131) records for digs and finished fourth all-time in C-USA last season. Her inaugural UAB squad made an immediate breakthrough in 2006, winning the program s first C-USA Championship and advancing to its first NCAA tournament. The team s 27 wins were the most by a Blazer squad since Messersmith earned her 500th career win in the 2006 conference tournament semifinals, and another victory the next day sealed an NCAA trip. The Blazers lost in the first round to fourth-ranked UCLA, but they would be back. Following a 24-win campaign in 2007 and a conference tournament runner-up finish that left the team just shy of another postseason berth, UAB posted its best season ever in At 27-8, the 2008 UAB squad set a program record for winning percentage (.771) and won a schoolrecord 16 straight matches. The Blazers finished second in the C-USA standings at 13-3 and advanced to the league tournament finals for the third consecutive year under Messersmith, losing a hard-fought five-setter to top-seeded Tulane. But UAB was rewarded for its strong regular season with an NCAA tournament at-large berth and a trip to Lincoln, Neb. The Blazers swept Missouri State, 3-0, on Dec. 5 for the first NCAA tourney win in program history before falling in the second round to No. 4 overall seed Nebraska on the Huskers home floor at the historic NU Coliseum. UAB finished the year at No. 22 in the final RPI. The 2008 team was led by a pair of AVCA honorable mention All-Americans in Ivana Bozic (for the second time) and Nevena Stefanov, who was also the C-USA Setter of the Year. Three seasons later in 2011, Sam Serley (another two-time selection) became Messersmith s fifth Blazer All-American, while the coach has also tutored eight all-region selections and 11 all-conference players at UAB. Serley (2010) and current assistant coach Casey Dent (three times; ) also earned Academic All-District honors under Messersmith s guidance. In 2009, Messersmith coached C-USA Newcomer of the Year Michelle Uzoh and All- Freshman team member Serley, who went on to earn second-team all-league honors in Messersmith led UAB to another winning season in 2009 with a overall record and a 9-7 mark in league play. Her 2010 team went but closed with wins in its final five matches and eight of its last 11 to post a eague mark and finish in the top half of the C-USA standings for the fifth consecutive season, every year of her tenure. UAB s 13-7 mark in league in 2011 extended that streak to six straight years. Her achievements at UAB are the latest in a long line of coaching successes and program turnarounds. Messersmith owns an overall coaching record of (.651), and she took over at UAB with a proven track record of resurrecting collegiate volleyball programs. Coming to the Blazers from Georgia Southern in December of 2005, Messersmith was the Eagles all-time winningest coach in her tenure at the Statesboro, Ga., school. She turned around a program that was in the two seasons prior to her arrival in The Casper, Wyo., native compiled an overall record of at GSU and was in Southern Conference matches. Under Messersmith, the Eagles finished and were 14-6 in SoCon play in 2001, her first season at GSU. That effort came only a year after Georgia Southern was overall and just 5-15 in league action.

7 - - - Career Highs Kills Attacks Attack %* Assists Aces Blocks Digs #1 Sara Rishell (at UAB) ( ) 2 (2x) N/A 9 2 (5x) Jacksonville State Southern Miss Louisiana Tech UTSA - Tulsa Rice Aug. 31, 2013 Sept. 27, 2013 Nov. 10, 2013 Nov. 8, Sept. 29, 2013 Nov. 15, 2013 #2 Amber Treace (4-0-6) (2x) 11 Alabama State Alabama A&M Alabama State Tulane Alabama A&M UTSA UTSA Oct. 29, 2013 Oct. 27, 2013 Oct. 29, 2013 Nov. 1, 2013 Oct. 27, 2013 Nov. 8, 2013 Nov. 8, 2013 #3 Becca Howard (2-0-3) 61 3 (4x) 5 21 Tennessee Sate Tennessee State Charolotte East Carolina - Virginia Tech Tulsa Sept. 13, 2013 Sept. 13, 2013 Nov. 17, 2013 Oct. 4, Sept. 7, 2013 Sept. 29, 2013 #4 Rachel Fairbanks (2x) 32 (2x) SMU UTEP Georgia Tech Houston Georgia State UTEP Tulsa Oct. 28, 2011 Nov. 5, 2011 Aug. 28, 2010 Sept. 21, 2012 Sept. 10, 2013 Nov. 5, 2011 Sept. 29, 2013 #7 Gabby Deshotel 6 (2x) 16 (2x).536 (6-0-9) N/A N/A 5 4 Florida Atlantic Florida Atlantic East Carolina - - Florida Atlantic FIU Oct. 13, 2013 Oct. 13, 2013 Oct. 4, Oct. 13, 2013 Oct. 11, 2013 #8 Emma Schroer N/A N/A N/A 1 1 N/A 5 (2x) FIU Alabama A&M - Florida Atlantic Oct. 11, 2013 Oct. 27, Oct. 13, 2013 #9 Ally Slaughter ( ) 2 (4x) 4 (4x) 5 21 Illinois State Arkansas State Tulane Alabama State Tulane Jacksonville State Marshall Sept. 2, 2011 Aug. 26, 2011 Nov. 14, 2010 Oct. 29, 2013 Nov. 1, 2013 Aug. 31, 2013 Sept. 23, 2011 #10 Hannah Kowal N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A #11 Lindsay Simmons (7-0-10) N/A N/A 3 (3x) 1 (5x) Alabama State Alabama State Alabama State - - Middle Tennessee Rice Oct. 29, 2013 Oct. 29, 2013 Oct. 29, Oct. 6, 2013 Nov. 15, 2013 #12 Mariah McCallum N/A N/A N/A 1 (2x) N/A N/A Tennessee State - - Tulsa Sept. 13, Sept. 29, 2013 #17 Gabrielle Talley N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A #21 Kiriana Hirini ( ) 2 (2x) Jacksonville State Middle Tennessee Jacksonville State Houston Louisiana Tech UTEP Mississippi State Aug. 31, 2013 Oct. 6, 2013 Aug. 31, 2013 Sept. 21, 2012 Nov. 10, 2013 Nov. 6, 2011 Sept. 21, 2013 #23 Bethanie Thomas (at UAB) ( ) 5 2 (4x) 4 15 Tulsa Tulsa Alabama A&M Tennessee State Alabama A&M Arkansas State Rice Sept. 29, 2013 Sept. 29, 2013 Oct. 27, 2013 Sept. 13, 2013 Oct. 27, 2013 Sept. 20, 2013 Nov. 15, 2013 #24 Mandy Glon N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A #33 Sam Skinner ( ) 1 (8x) 3 (4x) 6 16 Wyoming Mississippi State Austin Peay Tulsa Southern Miss East Carolina SMU Sept. 14, 2013 Sept. 21, 2013 Sept. 7, 2013 Sept. 29, 2013 Sept. 27, 2013 Oct. 21, 2012 Oct. 25, 2012

8 UAB/Samford Volleyball Challenge Mercer vs UAB (Aug 30, 2013 at Birmingham, Ala.) # Mercer S K E TA Pct Ast SA SE RE Dig BS BA BE BH Pts 1 HOVEN, Avery JAMES, Ellie CARLTON, Caroline BECTON, Zoe LOCKE, Molly ROCHEFORT, Emily IANNARINO, Carly PENROD, Tori KNAPPER, Lizzie NOON, Hannah Totals Mercer (0) UAB/Samford Volleyball Challenge Minnesota vs UAB (Aug 30, 2013 at Birmingham, Ala.) # Minnesota S K E TA Pct Ast SA SE RE Dig BS BA BE BH Pts 1 Santana, Daly Dixon, Tori Tapp, Hannah Wilhite, Sarah Wittman, Ashley Palmer, Alexandra Hauer, Karlie Tapp, Paige White, Kalysta Mau, Kalei Lawmaster, Lindsey Howard, Sydney Totals Minnesota (3) UAB (0) RISHELL, Sara HOWARD, Becca SLAUGHTER, Ally HIRINI, Kiriana THOMAS, Bethanie SKINNER, Sam FAIRBANKS, Rachel Team 2 Totals TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 8.0 Date: Aug 30, 2013 Attend: 157 Time: 1:20 Referees: 1 RISHELL, Sara HOWARD, Becca SLAUGHTER, Ally HIRINI, Kiriana THOMAS, Bethanie SKINNER, Sam FAIRBANKS, Rachel DESHOTEL, Gabby MCCALLUM, Mariah Totals TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 7.0 Date: Aug 30, 2013 Attend: 173 Time: 1:17 Referees: Pat Martin, Tom Joseph UAB/Samford Volleyball Challenge Jacksonville State vs UAB (Aug 31, 2013 at Birmingham, Ala.) UAB/Samford Volleyball Challenge Presbyterian vs UAB (Aug 31, 2013 at Birmingham, Ala.) ## Jacksonville State S K E TA Pct Ast TA Pct SA SE TA Pct 0 RE Pct Dig BS BA BE BHE Points 1 RUTHERFORD, Emily ZELHART, Kaitlyn MERGET, Nicole AGAMY, Alina LONG, Taylor CLINKENBEARD, Kacy BOHNE, Samantha PFLUGRADT, Liza COLE, Kelly HEREDIA, Abbey Totals Jacksonville State (1) UAB (3) ## Presbyterian S K E TA Pct Ast TA Pct SA SE TA Pct 0 RE Pct Dig BS BA BE BHE Points 2 HALL, Rachel TRIMPE, Mary TRIPP, Halle BARMAN, Andrea FRANK, Ashtin GAVIN, Lena BERRYMAN, Kelly DOOLEY, Aubrey FULGHUM, Jean ROGERS, Sara Totals Presbyterian (0) TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: E TA TA SE TA 0 RE BS BA BE ## UAB S K Pct Ast Pct SA Pct Pct Dig BHE Points 1 RISHELL, Sara HOWARD, Becca SLAUGHTER, Ally HIRINI, Kiriana THOMAS, Bethanie SKINNER, Sam FAIRBANKS, Rachel SCHROER, Emma MCCALLUM, Mariah Totals TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 11.0 Date: Aug 31, 2013 Attend: 128 Time: 1:52 Referees: Tom Joseph, Del Hughes ## UAB S K E TA Pct Ast TA Pct SA SE TA Pct 0 RE Pct Dig BS BA BE BHE Points 1 RISHELL, Sara HOWARD, Becca SLAUGHTER, Ally HIRINI, Kiriana THOMAS, Bethanie SKINNER, Sam FAIRBANKS, Rachel SIMMONS, Lindsay MCCALLUM, Mariah Totals TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 14.0 Date: Aug 31, 2013 Attend: 106 Time: 1:20 Referees: Kevin O'Brien, Tom Joseph

9 Samford vs UAB (Sep 04, 2013 at Birmingham, Ala.) # Samford S K E TA Pct Ast SA SE RE Dig BS BA BE BH Pts 4 Michaela Reesor Katie Murphy Stephanie Palmer Erin Bognar Emily Meitz Taylor Palmer Chelsi Carter Selina Schirmer Taylor Chao Erika Pifer Gabbi Greenwald Mattie Newson Team 2 Totals Samford (0) TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: RISHELL, Sara HOWARD, Becca SLAUGHTER, Ally HIRINI, Kiriana THOMAS, Bethanie SKINNER, Sam FAIRBANKS, Rachel DESHOTEL, Gabby MCCALLUM, Mariah Totals TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 10.0 Date: Sep 04, 2013 Attend: 183 Time: 1:17 Referees: Apple Kridakorn, Michelle Prater UAB vs North Dakota (Sep 06, 2013 at Murfreesboro, Tenn.) 1 RISHELL, Sara HOWARD, Becca SLAUGHTER, Ally HIRINI, Kiriana THOMAS, Bethanie SKINNER, Sam FAIRBANKS, Rachel SCHROER, Emma KOWAL, Hannah MCCALLUM, Mariah Totals North Dakota (0) # North Dakota S K E TA Pct Ast SA SE RE Dig BS BA BE BH Pts 8 HUSFELDT, Nikki ROBINSON, Lexi YAGER, Candice MUNKEBY, Ronni PARLICH, Lisa HART, McKenzie DAHL, Naomi KRUEGER, Ellen PIOSKE, Anna CLARKE, Lauren MOSER, Chelsea ASCHE, Emily Totals TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 10.0 Site: Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Alumni Memorial Gym) Date: Sep 06, 2013 Attend: 103 Time: 1:18 Referees: Marsha Goodwin, Mic Huffman UAB vs Austin Peay (Sep 07, 2013 at Murfreesboro, Tenn.) 1 RISHELL, Sara HOWARD, Becca SCHROER, Emma HIRINI, Kiriana THOMAS, Bethanie SKINNER, Sam FAIRBANKS, Rachel SLAUGHTER, Ally MCCALLUM, Mariah Totals Virginia Tech vs UAB (Sep 07, 2013 at Murfreesboro, Tenn.) # Virginia Tech S K E TA Pct Ast SA SE RE Dig BS BA BE BH Pts 1 Lindsey Owens Jordan Fish Amanda McKinzie Victoria Hamsher Kathryn Caine LaTasha Samson-Akpan Kenedy McGrath Samantha Gostling Megan Beckwith Totals Austin Peay (0) TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: Virginia Tech (3) UAB (1) # Austin Peay S K E TA Pct Ast SA SE RE Dig BS BA BE BH Pts 1 FIELDS, Cami HULL, Calyn EBRIGHT, Sammie STROTHER, Samantha HENDERSON, Lauren PLYBON, Hillary ADAMS, April BALES, Lizzy MARSELLIS, Aubrey LITCHFIELD, Syd Totals Site: Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Alumni Memorial Gym) Date: Sep 07, 2013 Attend: 103 Time: 1:18 Referees: Mic Huffman, James Kirkpatrick 1 RISHELL, Sara HOWARD, Becca SLAUGHTER, Ally HIRINI, Kiriana THOMAS, Bethanie SKINNER, Sam FAIRBANKS, Rachel MCCALLUM, Mariah Totals TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 15.0 Site: Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Alumni Memorial Gym) Date: Sep 07, 2013 Attend: 135 Time: 1:47 Referees: James Kirkpatrick, Steve Kenyon

10 UAB vs Georgia State (Sep 10, 2013 at Atlanta, Ga.) 1 RISHELL, Sara HOWARD, Becca MCCALLUM, Mariah HIRINI, Kiriana THOMAS, Bethanie SKINNER, Sam FAIRBANKS, Rachel SLAUGHTER, Ally Totals UAB (3) Georgia State (0) TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: Indiana University Volleyball UAB vs TSU (Sep 13, 2013 at Bloomington, Ind.) ## UAB S K E TA Pct Ast TA Pct SA SE TA Pct 0 RE Pct Dig BS BA BE BHE Points 1 RISHELL, Sara HOWARD, Becca MCCALLUM, Mariah HIRINI, Kiriana THOMAS, Bethanie SKINNER, Sam TREACE, Amber FAIRBANKS, Rachel DESHOTEL, Gabby SLAUGHTER, Ally Totals TSU (0) TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: # Georgia State S K E TA Pct Ast SA SE RE Dig BS BA BE BH Pts 10 Bohannon, Dede Zachary, Eliza Shonk, Molly Ezell, Andrea Nieto, Natalia Ajanaku, Kitan Stinson, Kristina Hunsley, Sydney Serafin, Gabby Averbeck, Emily Totals TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 4.0 Site: Atlanta, Ga. (GSU Sports Arena) Date: Sep 10, 2013 Attend: 219 Time: 1:26 Referees: Michelle Prater, Debbie McLamb E TA TA SE TA 0 RE BS BA BE ## TSU S K Pct Ast Pct SA Pct Pct Dig BHE Points 2 Taylor Swayzer 7 Arijana Anderson Naomi Wells Shuantia Carr Sherryce Butler Erika Moss Ileanushka Maldanado Taylor Patterson Katie Burnett Jordon Piper Zoe Sostre Jaime Cooper Totals Site: Bloomington, Ind. (University Gymnasium) Date: Sep 13, 2013 Attend: 33 Time: 1:14 Referees: Rod Rodriguez, Emi Vishoot Tie scores Lead changes Indiana University Volleyball Wyoming vs UAB (Sep 14, 2013 at Bloomington, Ind.) Indiana University Volleyball UAB vs Indiana (Sep 14, 2013 at Bloomington, Ind.) ## Wyoming S K E TA Pct Ast TA Pct SA SE TA Pct 0 RE Pct Dig BS BA BE BHE Points 2 KIRBY, Erin RYSHYTYLO, Mikaela SLOFKISS, Kayla PLANTE, Reese HENDERSON, Kayla CHACON, Courtney STEWART, Becky SHANAHAN, Bridget FRY, Calli JOHNSON, Kaitlyn BEACH, Laura KEYES, Rachel Totals TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: Wyoming (2) UAB (3) E TA TA SE TA 0 RE BS BA BE ## UAB S K Pct Ast Pct SA Pct Pct Dig BHE Points 1 RISHELL, Sara 3 HOWARD, Becca SLAUGHTER, Ally HIRINI, Kiriana THOMAS, Bethanie SKINNER, Sam FAIRBANKS, Rachel SCHROER, Emma MCCALLUM, Mariah Totals ## UAB S K E TA Pct Ast TA Pct SA SE TA Pct 0 RE Pct Dig BS BA BE BHE Points 1 RISHELL, Sara HOWARD, Becca SLAUGHTER, Ally HIRINI, Kiriana THOMAS, Bethanie SKINNER, Sam FAIRBANKS, Rachel DESHOTEL, Gabby Totals UAB (0) Indiana (3) E TA TA SE TA 0 RE BS BA BE ## Indiana S K Pct Ast Pct SA Pct Pct Dig BHE Points 2 Haverly, Jordan 6 Lebo, Taylor Anderson, Amelia Gallagher, Katie Leach, Morgan Nwaeze, Awele Merritt, Kyndall George, Chante McDonald, Jazzmine Hicks, Melanie Tallman, Megan Hansen, Caitlin Totals TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 12.0 Site: Bloomington, Ind. (University Gymnasium) Date: Sep 14, 2013 Attend: 103 Time: 1:54 Referees: Emi Vishoot, Rod Rodriguez Total Tie scores Lead changes TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 9.5 Site: Bloomington, Ind. (University Gymnasium) Date: Sep 14, 2013 Attend: 803 Time: 1:20 Referees: Rod Rodriguez, William Thornburgh Tie scores Lead changes