HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Fernanda Spengler racked up 15 kills with a .542 hitting percentage to help carry the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff volleyball team to a five-set win (20-25, 25-23, 25-22, 19-25, 15-4) over the Alabama A&M Bulldogs Monday in their final game of the SWAC Cluster.
The victory moved the Lady Lions' record to 4-3 in SWAC play.
The Lady Lions offense was paced by Spengler, who finished with 15 kills on the day while accumulating a hitting percentage of .542. Laila Fortson added 12 and Zykia Jones chipped in with 11 as part of a UAPB attack that had five players with double-digit kills. The Lady Lions got 18 digs from Breana August to lead them defensively.
Game Notes
» UAPB had five players in double figures in kills.
» Fernanda Spengler was efficient in attacking situations in the match, accumulating 15 kills while hitting .542.
» Zykia Jones had a team-high three aces in the win.
» UAPB never trailed on the way to winning the third set 25-22.
» UAPB never trailed on the way to winning the fourth set 15-4.
» UAPB served up three aces on the way to a fifth-set victory.
» Fernanda Spengler had a match-high 15 kills for UAPB.
» UAPB got a match-high 18 digs from Breana August.
» UAPB attackers were helped by a team-high 35 assists from Nikole Akamine.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Lady Lions found themselves in an early hole, dropping the first set 25-20. UAPB trailed by as many as seven points as Alabama A&M grabbed the advantage for good at 7-6 in a set that was tied up three times before the Bulldogs took control.
SET 2 | UAPB responded to pick up a 25-23 victory in the second set, evening the match at one set apiece. The Lady Lions grabbed the set powered by a strong showing on the attacking end. UAPB put together a .379 attack percentage with 16 kills in the set win. The Lady Lions opened up a 17-10 lead in the stanza and coasted to victory from there.
SET 3 | UAPB went ahead 2-1 in the match after defeating the Bulldogs in set three. The Lady Lions scored first and never trailed in the set to earn a 25-22 victory. UAPB opened up as much as an eight point lead at 17-9 before finishing off the set, collecting 16 kills in the process. The UAPB offense also got a boost from three aces in the stanza.
SET 4 | UAPB couldn't keep the win streak going, as the Bulldogs forced a fifth set with a 25-19 fourth-set win. The Lady Lions trailed by as many as six points as Alabama A&M grabbed the advantage for good at 18-17 and UAPB wasn't able to recover in a set that was tied up nine times before the Bulldogs took over in the second half of the stanza.
SET 5 | UAPB opened a two sets to one lead and held off Alabama A&M's rally attempt, which included a fourth set victory, to win the fifth set 15-4 and the match 3-2. The Lady Lions scored first and never trailed in the fifth set to earn the victory. UAPB opened up as much as an 11 point lead at 14-3 before finishing off the set, totaling nine kills while only notching one attack error in the process. UAPB also supplemented their offense with three aces in the final set.
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