Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BIRMINGHAM – The Jacksonville State volleyball team began the final day of the UAB "Fight Like Hal" Memorial Tournament sweeping UMass Lowell, before falling to the tournament-host, UAB, later in the day.
 
The Gamecocks (7-9) had a strong offensive outing against UML (2-12) in Saturday's early contest.
 
In the first set, sophomore Allyson Zuhlke had three kills during a 6-0 run propelling the Gamecocks ahead, 8-4. JSU hit .379 compared to the River Hawks' .100 in the opening set en route to a 25-14 win. Zuhlke recorded six of her team-high 14 kills in the first set.
 
UMass Lowell led 21-16 in the second set, threatening to tie the match, before senior Emily Rutherford's kill sparked a run that saw the Gamecocks take the final nine points to storm from behind taking the set, 25-21.
 
UML jumped out to a 4-0 lead to begin the third set, but the score was quickly knotted up, 8-8. From there, JSU climbed out to a 16-11 advantage, but the River Hawks came back at the end tying the set at 24. Jax State eventually managed to put back-to-back points together to win, 28-26.
 
Rutherford finished with another double-double, her fifth this season, with 11 kills and a team-high 15 digs. The offensive attack was consistent all game set up by sophomore Jennifer Hart's 41 assists. Freshmen Kim Krutsinger and Mackenzie Rombach each finished with eight kills hitting .545 and .462, respectively.
 
Later in the day, the Gamecocks finally squared off against tournament-host, UAB. The home court advantage certainly played in favor of the Blazers (9-9) as they knocked off JSU in four sets (8-25, 19-25, 25-21, 17-25).
 
JSU's struggles began early as the first set got away from the Gamecocks, ending 25-8. The Red and White hung with the Green and Gold better in the second, but couldn't quite catch the Blazers once UAB broke a 12-12 tie.
 
Not prepared to go down easily, JSU scrapped its way to a 25-21 set victory in the third, avoiding the sweep. The comeback effort fell short as UAB closed out the match with a 25-17 fourth set.
 
Rutherford was the lone player with double-digit kills with 14. Hart's 31 assists gave her 72 for the final day of the tournament. The sophomore setter from Davidson, N.C., was named to the All-Tournament team.
 
"I thought Jennifer Hart played tough all weekend," said head coach Terry Gamble. "After busting her lip against Ole Miss, she demanded to come back in. It showed how much she cares."
 
Jax State looks now toward Ohio Valley Conference action as the Gamecocks open the conference slate next weekend in Illinois. JSU plays at SIU Edwardsville Friday night, before making the trip over to Eastern Illinois for a Saturday afternoon match.