LIVINGSTON, Ala. – After losing the first game, the University of West Alabama volleyball team battled back to force a five-game match where the Tigers fought from behind to claim a 3-2 win against Henderson State.
 
Playing for the second time in less than a week, UWA and Henderson State met Thursday at the Alabama-Huntsville Tournament. The Tigers earned their second victory over the Reddies in less than six days to move their record to 4-1 on the year.
 
“We were able to establish a decent lead in nearly every game we played tonight,” stated UWA coach Mike Shearer. “Henderson State really played spectacular defense all day, but I am happy of the way we responded.”
 
West Alabama was forced to respond from the start as HSU built a seven-point lead in the first game. Down 11-4, UWA went on a 12-3 run to take its first lead of the contest at 16-14. Still, the Reddies were too much for UWA as they fought from behind for a 25-22 win.
 
Trailing only twice in the second set, the Tigers held to tie the match at 1-1 after a kill by freshman Morgan Ray and a service ace by Chelsea Payne, which put the score at 25-23.
 
With a tie match, the two teams split the third and fourth sets with Henderson State cruising to a 25-16 win in the third and UWA taking a tight 25-22 triumph in the fourth. Tied at 2-2, the two teams then went to a tie-breaker fifth set.
 
“I told the girls that I was glad to see us go to the fifth set,” stated Shearer. “Early in the season, I think it was a great opportunity to see how we could handle adversity. With tonight's result, I think we passed the test and I am happy to get the win.”
 
Playing to 15 points, UWA found itself in an early hole in the final game, falling behind 8-5. Down three, Tiger Abigail McKenzie picked up a kill off the set by Payne before Cynthia Smith delivered two serves that tied the match up at 8-8.
 
As the two teams went back-and-forth in the latter part of the set, it was again McKenzie who delivered a kill to seal the match and give UWA the 15-13 win and the 3-2 match triumph.
 
The Tigers were led by four players who each had double-digit kills, while Henderson State totaled 32 blocks, compared to just nine from UWA. Ray once again led the Tigers with 17 kills and a.200 attack percentage on the evening.
 
UWA now faces Paine College and Florida Tech tomorrow, beginning at 11 a.m. CT.