Volleyball team falls 3-1

LIVINGSTON – The University of West Alabama volleyball team fell 3-1 (19-30, 32-30, 30-24, 30-20) to Alabama-Huntsville (9-6, 2-0 GSC) on Tuesday night in Pruitt Hall.

Amanda Heaton led the Tigers with 20 kills to go along with nine digs and two service aces. Haley Ball and Melissa Bartlett added 15 kills apiece, while Whitney Burt added a match-high 54 assists. Melanie Moffett had a match-high 29 digs for UWA, while Bartlett had a match-high eight total blocks (three solos).

Emily Miller had a match-high 22 kills for the Chargers to go along with a team-high 23 digs. Kristian Kleminsky added 14 kills and 20 digs for UAH, while Samantha Polkowski had a team-high 52 assists.

The Tigers move to 2-12 overall (0-2 in GSC play). UWA returns to action on Sunday when North Alabama comes to Livingston for a 2:00 p.m. match.

Football team preps for Arkansas Tech

LIVINGSTON – The University of West Alabama football team returns to Tiger Stadium on Saturday to face Arkansas Tech (3-0, 2-0 GSC) at 1:00 p.m., after the Tigers picked up their first win of the season last week by defeating Arkansas-Monticello 24-23 in Monticello, Ark.

“A win always helps the mentality of your football team,” said UWA Head Coach Sam McCorkle. “It is nice to walk in on Monday morning and see a lot of smiling faces.”

The Tigers enter the Arkansas Tech game averaging 247.2 yards of total offense per game, including 173.5 on the ground and 73.8 through the air. Ross leads the UWA rushing attack with 378 yards and four touchdowns on 85 carries. Wright has 161 yards on 28 attempts, while Will Harter has rushed for 129 yards on 27 carries.

Todd Wilson is UWA’s leading passer, connecting on 16-of-40 passes for 214 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Andre Epps is the Tiger’s leading receiver with six catches for 65 yards. Laramie Cook has five receptions for 73 yards, while Harter has two catches for 69 yards and one score.

Arkansas Tech is 3-0 on the season, following a 35-21 home win over Southern Arkansas last Saturday. ATU is off to its best start since 2001 and has scored more points to this point than any Tech team since 1945.The Wonder Boys enter Saturday’s match-up averaging 398.7 yards (243.7 passing and 155 rushing) of total offense. R.J. Vanhook is ATU’s leading rusher on the season with 177 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries, while Lance Goodin has rushed for 127 yards and three scores on 27 attempts.

West Alabama (1-3, 1-1 GSC) and Arkansas Tech (3-0, 2-0 GSC) met last season in Livingston, Ala., with the Wonder Boys winning 20-17 on a 25-yard field goal with 13 seconds remaining in the game. Arkansas Tech leads the all-time series 8-4 over the Tigers. Saturday’s kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at Tiger Stadium and all the action can be heard on WYLS FM-104.9 (York, Ala.).

– Jason Hughes