Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Bama Preps For USC; Tide Volleyball Sweeps Stanford; Alabama Soccer Heading For Sunshine State; Men's & Women's Cross Country Both Make Top 10 Regional




Alabama Football Continues Game Preparation
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Top-Ranked Alabama Faces USC On Saturday



Photo Credit: RollTide.com

It won't be long now. Only a few days separates us from University of Alabama Crimson Tide football. Finally the Tide will be back on the field of battle. And the preparation for USC continues. The Tide practiced in full pads yesterday for approximately two hours inside the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility.

Linebacker Josh McMillon was back hard at practice yesterday. This is second day back following the funeral of a family member.

Two players were again seen in the black, non-contact jerseys. Defensive back Nigel Knott and offensive lineman Richie Petitbon did, however, practice.

Backup right guard Alphonse Taylor watched practice from the sidelines. Though dressed, he wasn't wearing the leg braces and pads the others sported. Taylor was found not guilty yesterday of driving under the influence which stemmed from a charge back in July.

Quarterbacks were hard at it, and during the media viewing period worked on short-yardage passing situations.

Yesterday was practice number 26 of 28 scheduled practices of the fall. After just two more the team will board the jet and head to Arlington, Texas for the AdvoCare Classic to kick off the 2016 season with the USC Trojans. Alabama is ranked No. 1 in most polls, while USC comes in at No. 17/20 according to whichever poll you use. The game will be played at AT&T Stadium, with a 7 p.m. CT game time set. ABC will broadcast the game, with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Samantha Ponder calling the contest.

Today's practice begins at 3:30 p.m. CT.


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Crimson Tide Volleyball Sweeps Samford


Photo Credit: RollTide.com

University of Alabama Crimson Tide volleyball put on a clinic yesterday evening, sweeping the Samford Bulldogs in the home-opener at Foster Auditorium. Bama took the 'Dogs in three straight, 25-20, 25-14 and 25-22. The Tide improves to 3-1, while Samford falls to 2-2 on the season.

Leading the Crimson Tide offensively with 14 kills and two aces was Krystal Rivers. This is Rivers' fourth consecutive match in double figures in kills.

Game leaders in kills, aces and blocks:

Krystal Rivers 14 kills, 2 aces, 3 blocks
Kat Hudson 9 kills, 1 ace, 0 blocks
Brittany Thomas 6 kills, 0 aces, 1 block
Hayley McSparin 6 kills, 0 aces, 3 blocks

Alabama next heads to Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico Clasico tournament, with action getting underway beginning tomorrow. The Tide faces Virginia Tech at 4:30 p.m. CT. Matches will continue on Friday, September 2nd against the Florida State Seminoles  (4:30 p.m. CT) and on Saturday, September 3rd against the Temple Owls (2 p.m. CT).





            Team Statistics

Game Stats        SAM     UA
Kills        26      42
Errors        21      18
Hitting %        .050      .222
Points        33.0      52.0
Aces        1      5
Blocks        6.0      5.0
TA        100      108
Assists        25      37

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Crimson Tide Soccer Heading For The Sunshine State


Photo Credit: RollTide.com


The University of Alabama soccer team is heading southeast for a trip state of Florida for two road contests scheduled over the next three days. Alabama begins their two matchups Tampa, Florida tomorrow (Thursday) evening, September 1st to do battle with 20th-ranked South Florida at 6 p.m. CT. The Crimson Tide will then make their way to Fort Meyers, Florida for a contest on Sunday, September 4th. Alabama will take on Florida Gulf Coast for a noon CT kickoff.

You can watch for updates via Twitter by following @Alabama Soccer. 

The Crimson Tide soccer team is sitting pretty in more ways than one. Bama is 4-0 on the young season, the best start since 2012 when the Tide opened the season at 5-0. Alabama has now scored a total of 14 goals this season, also the most since 2012 when they opened with 16 that year. Last season the Crimson Tide only scored a total of two goals through it's first four games, and didn't hit the 14th until later in the year, October 23rd in a contest with the Missouri Tigers (the 17th of the year).

The Crimson Tide ranks in the top 10 in four major offensive categories after only two weekends of play. Bama ranks fourth in shots per game, averaging 26.5. The Tide is sixth in total goals scored with 14. Bama also ranks sixth in total points with 40, and is ranked eighth in assists with 12. 

The Bama gals lead the SEC in six offensive as well as two defensive categories after the first two weekends of play. Alabama's offense leads the league in shots (106), goals (14), assists (12), points (40), goals per game (3.50) and assists per game (3.0). The Tide also boasts league-leading numbers in shutouts (3) and goals allowed (2). Lacey Clarida and Abbie  Boswell lead the league in game-winning goals (3) and assists (5), respectively. Boswell also leads the Southeastern Conference in assists per game (1.25), while Clarida is second in points (13), points per game (3.25), goals (6) and goals per game (1.50). Alabama has now racked up a total of 33 corner kicks, which ties for third with the Texas A&M Aggies and South Carolina Gamecocks.

The squad is showing dramatic improvement in the second season under head coach  Wes Hart.   


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Men's & Women's Cross Country Both Make Top 10


Photo Credit: RollTide.com


The first U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Rankings for the season are out, with the Alabama Crimson Tide men's and women's teams both making the Top 10 Regional. The women's team debuts at No. 5, while the men come in at No. 7. The rankings were released yesterday.

Both teams will compete in the Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic this Saturday night in Memphis, Tennessee. The men captured the victory in this particular meet last year while the women placed second. Both Alabama teams boasted the winners last season, with Antibahs Kosgei taking the victory for the men, and Rachael Reddy winning the women's competition.