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Lady Chargers have a nightmarish weekend in Missouri
One goal of the Lady Charger volleyball team is to make it to the South Central Region tournament. This past weekend the Lady Chargers ran into a major road block at the Central Missouri State Jennies Classic in Warrensburg, Missouri.Coach Laura Taube's ladies played four of the toughest opponents on the schedule this season. Their opponents, all members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Conference (MIAA), proved to be too much to handle. Three of the four teams were ranked in the AVCA Top 25 and they played like it.
Even so, coach Taube felt her team could compete, but the Lady Chargers would have to limit mistakes. Coming out the gates, the Lady Chargers stumbled falling short to No. 8 Truman State 30-19, 30-21, and 30-19. "Truman played a lot smarter than other teams we have played against and it takes teams like Truman to make us better," said sophomore outside hitter Molly Healey.
Adding to the loss, Healey suffered an ankle injury in the second game against Truman State, which sidelined her for the rest of the tournament. Junior Melissa Feldmann led the team with 10 kills.
In the second match on Friday, the Lady Chargers played 22nd ranked Washburn. Things didn't get much better as UAH fell 30-21, 30-17, and 30-22. Kristian Kleminsky led the way with 11 kills, while senior Mary Beth Key added 14 digs.
The Lady Chargers hoped to rebound on day two of the tournament, but they would have to do it against tournament host and No. 24 Central Missouri State. Though the Lady Chargers played with a lot more intensity and confidence than the day before, the Jennies continued the nightmare with a 30-28, 30-27, 30-25 sweep. The loss ruined a stellar performance for sophomore leading scorer Emily Miller, who paced UAH with 15 kills and 19 digs. Kleminsky also had an outstanding match tallying 13 kills and 11 digs. Feldmann also added 17 digs.
In the final match of the weekend, the Lady Chargers played unbeaten Pittsburg State, who though unranked, came in the match with a 9-0 record. UAH came out fired up, winning the first game of the match 30-26. However, the wheels came off after that and the Lady Gorillas took the next three games 30-18, 30-21, and 30-19. Miller lead the Lady Chargers with another double-double, racking up 19 kills and 11 digs. Kleminsky had 15 kills, Feldmann added 12 kills, and senior Daniella Bragg finished with 13 digs. Sophomore setter Samantha Polkowski piled up 91 assists on the final day of the tournament.
Despite the Lady Chargers' "0-for" trip to Missouri, the team showed plenty of fight, especially on Saturday. Coming home to open the GSC schedule should be just what the doctor ordered. The Lady Chargers have back-to-back GSC matches against Valdosta State and West Florida on Friday and Saturday at Spragins Hall. It will be the first matches at home for UAH since hosting the UAH/Radisson Invitational to open the season back in August.
For the first time ever, the Lady Chargers' home matches will be live on the internet. UAH sports information is adding Volleyball to its Live Stats productions. Hockey, basketball, baseball and softball have already had games played live for the last couple of years. There will be a live stats link on the UAH Athletics website front page to click on to follow the action.
Boxscores from the CMSU Jennies Classic
UAH-Truman State Boxscore
UAH-Washburn Boxscore
UAH-Central Missouri State Boxscore
UAH-Pittsburg State Boxscore
Next up: vs. Valdosta State, Friday, Sept. 19th, 7 p.m. at Spragins Hall; vs. West Florida, Saturday, Sept. 20th, 2 p.m. at Spragins Hall
