BANNER ELK, N.C. –  The University of West Alabama volleyball team split a pair of matches on Friday at the Carolina Challenge, hosted by Lees-McRae College.  The Tigers rebounded in the afternoon tilt to turn back Tusculum, 3-0, after being swept by Flagler College in the morning session.

UWA topped the Pioneers 25-14 in the opening set before outlasting TC, 30-28, to take a 2-0 lead in the match.  The Tigers picked up their fifth win of the season after a 25-19 third set-win.

A trio of Tigers turned in double digit kill performances in the TC match, led by senior Jordan Kent tallied 11 kills along with three block assists.  Junior Thais Hollerbach registered a double-double with ten kills and 12 digs.  The Porto Alegre, Brazil-native was also credited with four service aces.  Sophomore Casey Byrnes added a team-best 13 digs in the contest.  Sophomore setter Alexis McHale dished out 32 assists and carded five service aces.

Against the Saints of FC, current Gulf South Conference East Division Offensive Player of the Week, Ana Gabriela Pedrosa posted a match-high 16 kills to lead all Tigers.  The senior outside hitter connected on .414 percent of her 29 total attempts in the match.  Pedrosa followed up her 16 kill outing with ten against TC.  Hollerbach contributed eight kills.  After FC claimed the opening set, 25-19, UWA looked to have the second set in control up 22-13 over the Saints in the set, but FC went on an 11-1 scoring spurt to knot the set at 23-23, before taking a 2-0 lead in the set with a 27-25 win.  FC completed the sweep by the identical score from the second set.

The Tigers will tangle with former GSC member Lincoln Memorial University at Noon on Saturday, before closing out the weekend with a 2:30 p.m. tilt with Carson Newman.

Live stats will be available for the LMU match by clicking on the tournament central link at athletics.uwa.edu.