TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – After a thrilling 3-0 start to the season, Alabama volleyball has lost 4 of its past 5 matches, most recently a 4-set loss to Ball State (21-25, 25-21, 12-25, 25-27). The loss to host team Ball State marks the second of the weekend, as the Tide plays through the Ball State Tournament.
The Tide pulled ahead to an early lead, as an ace from 5th-year senior OH Abby Marjama made it 12-9 in the 1st set. However, the Cardinals would go on a 6-0 run to lead 19-23, as Alabama lost the lead and the set 21-25.
Senior MH Alyiah Wells found her seventh kill of the day, putting the Tide up 7-3 to start the 2nd set. Back-to-back aces by Marjama pushed the team to 17-12 lead over the Cardinals. The Tide would go on to take set 2 25-21, as they bested Ball State in attacking efficiency, serving, and blocking.
Unfortunately, Ball State seemed to find their stride, jumping out to a 5-11 lead, and capitalizing off of frequent Tide attacking errors, as Alabama lost set 3 12-25.
Re-energized, with the goal of winning the comeback bid set, the Tide was determined to not let the disappointing 3rd set loss discourage them. Wells was on fire, dropping the hammer on a Cardinal overpass before doing it again just moments later to tie the set at 12. Both teams couldn’t seem to find an edge, continuing to trade points until the set was tied at 22. After holding set point at 24-23, the Tide would go on to lose the 4th set 25-27.
As they fall to 4-4, the Tide looks to rebound tomorrow in their final match of the Ball State Tournament.
