Troy Battles Back to Beat Blazers

Sunday, September 11

Birmingham, Ala.

3 p.m.

Troy University

4-5,0-0Sun Belt

UAB

-45,00 CUSA

Troy

UAB

9/11/2022 7:26:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score PDF Box Score

By: Troy Athletics Communications

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Once again, Troy volleyball didn't wither when falling behind two sets to one as the Trojans beat the Blazers for the second season in a row after claiming a five-set victory (25-18, 19-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-13) to close out the Blazer Invitational Sunday night.

For the first-time all-season, Troy (4-5) had three players with double-digit kills, led by Tori Hester with 19. Julia Brooks recorded 13, and Savannah Poling had 10 setting a new career high. Poling has already matched her number of sets played last season and has appeared in four more matches.

Freshmen Jaci Mesa got her first start as Libero and finished the match with a team-high 13 digs, five digs, and an ace. Amara Anderson contributed 33 assists and 11 digs for her second double-double of the year as she looks to break the Troy all-time assists record at home.

For UAB (4-5), Fernanda Maida had 22 kills to lead the match, while Lidya Canturk saw a match-high 50 assists. The Blazers hit .200 as a team and had 17 blocks, but Troy's eight service aces to their four played a key role.

Set 1: The Trojans had seven more kills than the Blazers in the first set. The set saw six tie scores and two lead changes, but Troy would see the lead for good after taking a 7-6 lead. Brooks led the way with six kills in the set, which included giving Troy a six-point advantage. Hester finished the set off with a kill giving Troy the set lead.

Set 2: The Blazers battled back, holding Troy to a match low .026 percentage while recording 16 kills. The Trojans had gone back and forth, not falling behind more than two points before UAB made it 20-17. However, a few attack errors stretched the lead as UAB outscored Troy 5-2 down the final stretch.

Set 3: The home team had the advantage in the third set as they saw their largest match lead at 17-11, forcing Troy to call a timeout. Brooks led the comeback with a service ace, and Troy got back to within three, but the Trojan offense faltered late as they only saw one kill in the last 10 points leading to a 2-1 UAB set lead.

Set 4: Troy quickly forgot about the third set and rallied for four straight points, including kills from Poling and Sophie Sparks and an Anderson ace. UAB made mistakes in which they had their lowest attack percentage of the match at .077, allowing Troy to tie the match and send it to the fifth set.

Set 5: Troy jumped out to a 6-1 lead, but UAB fought hard and eventually tied the set at 10 all. Ashley Guenveur gave recorded a kill to break the deadlock, and brooks would follow two points later, untying the game at 13-12. Troy looked to make it to match point up two points, but an unsuccessful challenge made it a one-point set once again. With Troy receiving the serve, a short rally ended with Guenveur getting a kill giving Troy their fourth win of the season.

Up Next: Troy will finally be back in the friendly confines of Trojan Arena with a matchup against Alabama State on Thursday, September 15, to kick off the Trojan Invitational with Gardner-Webb and Jacksonville participating.