FLORENCE, Ala. – UWF volleyball scored a major early-season road win 3-1 Friday at North Alabama. The Argos (10-4, 2-0 GSC) got another solid performance from reigning GSC Offensive Player of the Week Rachel Neblett, who finished with 18 kills and hit .484 for the match. Nadine Williams also turned in a standout night, registering 17 digs and 7 kills as UWF handed preseason GSC top seed UNA (11-3, 1-1 GSC) its first conference loss. The win was the seventh in a row for the Argos.
UWF came ready to play, running away with the evening's opening set 25-13. UNA went up 4-3 early but a 7-1 run by the Argos propelled the team to a lead that it would not relinquish. After building a 14-10 advantage, UWF closed on an 11-3 run to go up 1-0. Neblett led the charge, posting eight kills and one service ace while getting in on four blocks. Neblett would finish the match as part of eight blocks, and the Argos posted eleven official blocks as a team.
Jordyn Poppen got in on the action in a tighter second set, putting up seven kills in a down-to-the-wire effort that stood tied at 23 before two late attack errors by UNA helped UWF clinch it 25-23. Taylor Hall finished with four kills in the set and got in on a final block with Neblett to help ice the set.
UNA battled back in front of their 606 home fans at Flowers Hall to take the third set 25-18. UNA would be led in the match Jessica Austin and Lexie Bradley, who combined for 25 kills. UWF raced out to an 8-5 lead in the third before a Lions run stole the advantage. UWF narrowed the gap to as close as 19-17 before a final 6-1 surge by the home team made the match 2-1.
In the 4th, it was UNA that raced to an 8-5 lead before a rally by UWF helped to finish off the match. Williams keyed the turnaround with two kills in the middle of the set, and the Argos turned a tight early set into a runaway victory. Three straight kills by Caleigh Morrison essentially put it away at 23-12 before the Argos cruised to a 25-15 win.
The Argos enjoyed six service aces in the match vs. just three for UNA. Poppen totaled nine kills, eight digs and one service ace. Hall had six kills and three digs. Monique StCyr finished with thirty-three assists, six digs and two kills. Sarah Hayman had eight digs, and Logan Kael had nine plus two assists.
The Argos return to action Saturday, September 23rd at the Alabama Huntsville. Start time in Huntsville is slated for 1:00 pm. Live stats and video for the match are available.
#ARGOS#
