Troy University Athletics
Troy University
1-8,0-0Sun Belt
Alabama
9-1,0-0SEC
Troy Drops Five Set Thriller to Alabama
9/14/2023 11:27:00 PM | Volleyball
TROY, Ala. – Troy Volleyball dropped a five-set thriller to Alabama, 3-2 (26-24, 17-25, 21-25, 25-17, 15-9) in front of more than 1,209 fans inside Trojan Arena Thursday night.
"Our home fans have been great," head coach Josh Lauer said. "We started building a fun volleyball tradition here with our fans. Starting in 2019, they have been behind us and supported us ever since. Our team feeds off that, I'm so thankful for the Trojan volleyball family that we have here. I saw other athletes and coaches get out of their seats, it's what one of the things that makes this place special, that our athletes feel that love. I really appreciate that support, and I can't thank our fans enough for coming out tonight."
The match was Troy's (1-8) first of the season at home after opening with one of the nation's most challenging schedules, featuring three ranked opponents and six NCAA Tournament teams from last year.
Troy has a quick turnaround hosting Grambling State on Friday at 6 pm.
Tori Hester posted her third consecutive double-double, with 19 digs and 20 kills to lead Troy. The Trojans scratched off seven aces, with three from Hester. Amiah Butler also earned a double-digit kills, finishing the match with 11. In her first career start, Sydney Austin tallied four kills, one dig and an ace. The Trojans kept pace with the Crimson Tide (9-1), with 53 kills opposed to their 52.
Alabama's Kendyl Reaugh tallied 16 kills, followed by Alyiah Wells with 10. Callie Kieffer had three more assists at 46, than Janelle Stuempfig who posted 43 in tonight's match. The Crimson Tide defense was led by Sydney Gholson who had 20 digs.
Set One
The battle started early, Stuempfig dropped in a kill over the net to start a rally, 3-2. The Trojans scratched out a 10-5 lead behind a pair of Hester aces and Crimson Tide errors. Gryniewicz brought the Crimson Tide back within three,12-9, with a kill. The Troy lead continued to build behind a kill from Austin, 16-10. Alabama clawed back capitalizing on Troy errors and an ace from Gryniewicz to tie the match at 16-16. Brooks got her hand on the ball to give the Trojans a small two-point lead at the 19-17 mark. The Crimson Tide tied the match up with a kill from Kyla Dunaway, 22-22. Alabama took its first lead of the set behind a kill from Alyiah Wells, 24-23, before swiftly taking the first set at 26-24.
Set Two
Troy built an early 4-0 lead from Alabama errors and an ace from Sara Bates. The Trojans built a comfortable lead with four rapid kills, three coming from Hester and one from Brooks, 9-2. Butler got her hand on the ball to extend the score, 13-5. The Crimson Tide brought the game back within six, behind a kill from Kendyl Reaugh and a Trojan error. Hester continued to make her presence known, slamming one down, to push Troy's lead out to 19-14.
Set Three
Alabama got the first lead of the set, behind a kill from Reaugh 3-2. Hester, Austin and Bates led a five-point scoring run, and a pair of Crimson Tide errors extended the Trojan lead to 11-8. Austin pushed Troy's led to 21-14 with a monster kill before Alabama climbed within three with two kills from Gryniewicz. Hester delivered the knockout blow to close the set, 25-21.
Set Four
The Trojans and Crimson Tide traded blows before Alabama took a five-point lead on a kill by Reaugh, 13-8. Troy kept it within five, with Hester who slammed one down, 17-12. Wells pushed Alabama to a six-point lead, when she scratched one off, 20-14. Brooks scored the last Trojan point, before Alabama took the set 25-17.
Set Five
The fifth set started with both teams trading points. Butler put Trojans on top with a kill, 7-5. Alabama rallied behind Wells' two quick kills and a Troy error to take the lead, 9-7. A pair of errors and a pair of kills from Reaugh brought the Crimson Tide to a five-point lead 13-8. Alabama closed the match on a block from Kieffer and Wells.
