Friday, August 24, 2007

NORTH ALABAMA WINS 3-0 IN VOLLEYBALL OPENER OVER TUSCULUM

FLORENCE, Ala. --- Danielle Palasak and Beyaca Martin tallied 10 kills each to lead the No. 9 North Alabama volleyball team to a 3-0 win over Tusculum College in day one action of the UNA Classic at Flowers Hall. It was the season-opening match for both squads. The Lions (1-0) won by scores of 30-19, 30-20, 32-30.

Tusculum's Vivian Lacy had a splendid match as she led all players with 13 kills and a .579 hitting percentage (13-2-19). Lacy also added four digs and a service ace in the loss.

In the first game, UNA jumped out to an early 6-1 advantage, including three service aces by Jessica Hansen to open the match. Tusculum responded with a 13-7 run and took its first lead of the day at 14-13 following an ace by Lacy. UNA regained the lead and used a 9-1 spurt to move up 25-17 en route to winning the game 30-19.

The second game was a close contest early as the match was tied six times. With the frame tied at 11-11, UNA ran off five straight points, including three aces by Palasak. Later in the game, Hansen scored six straight points, including five aces as the Lions led 24-14. TC would trim the deficit to five (24-19), but that's as close as the Pioneers would get as UNA won game two 30-20.

In the third game, neither team could hold a lead of more than four points as the contest was a tight affair. TC led early 8-5 following a kill by Lacy, but UNA would answer with a 7-2 run, including a pair of kills by Palasak.

Both teams battled down the stretch as Tusculum was serving game point at 29-27, but Martin and Whitney Sanders accounted for huge kills and Kelly Pratt sealed the match with a service ace.

Tusculum's Kelsey Hayden added five kills, two digs and a pair of blocks in the loss. Alexis Rowles finished with 10 digs, while Brittney Oblinger added 22 assists in her Tusculum debut.

Tusculum will face No. 8 Ashland University later Friday afternoon as the UNA Classic continues.

- TC -