Volleyball Tigers Suffer Hard Fought 3-2 Setback To West Florida

PENSACOLA, Fla. –  The University of West Alabama volleyball team had its 16-match winning streak snapped in a hard-fought 3-2 setback to West Florida in Gulf South Conference East volleyball action.

The Tigers (25-6, 5-1 GSC East) opened the match claiming the first two sets by identical scores of 25-23.  The Argonaut rally started with a 25-15 win in the third set and knotted the match 2-2 after downing UWA 25-23 to force a fifth and deciding set.  UWF completed the come-from-behind with a 16-14 match clincher.  The win pushed the Argos GSC East mark to 6-2 while the Red and White suffered its first loss in conference play.

UWA senior Jessica Crook turned in a match-high 23 kills in the five-set marathon.  Her 23 kills ties a season-best for the Ohatchee, Ala.-native.  Crook finished the Henderson State match on Oct. 16 with 23 kills.  Junior Thais Hollerbach posted a double-double with 15 kills and 23 digs.  Senior Jordan Kent finished out the trio of Tigers that finished the match in double digits.  The Decatur, Ala.-product tallied 11 kills.  Kent was also credited with five block assists.  Senior Chanelle Esteban tallied 17 digs while Alexis McHale and Casey Byrnes each registered ten digs.  McHale carded a double-double as she dished out 53 assists.  As a team, UWA finished with 81 digs and 59 kills and 11 blocks.

UWF’s Patricia Gandolfo, who was named the GSC East Division Offensive Player of the Week earlier in the day, lived up to her honor as she paced the Green and Blue with 21 kills and was associated with 12 blocks.  Lindsay Homme and Jamie Nichols added 12 and 11 kills respectively.

The Tigers continue their GSC East trip on Friday, Oct. 30, trekking to Florence, Ala. to face the Lions of UNA.  Match time is set for 7 p.m. at Flowers Hall.