Alabama volleyball opens season with 2-1 record at Beanpot Classic

Saturday, September 1 is the day that most Crimson Tide fans have had on their calendars for months. With football only mere days away, the anticipation is almost over and football is almost ready to make its return to the Capstone. But there’s another sport whose season has already started, and it has started quite well.

The Alabama volleyball team has opened up its 2012 season with a strong 2-1 record after a great weekend playing at the Beanpot Classic in Boston. The Tide, under the direction of second-year head coach Ed Allen, is looking to continue to build on the foundation put down last season during Allen’s first year in Tuscaloosa.

The Crimson Tide opened up regular season play on Friday by beating Holy Cross Crusaders in its first match on Friday afternoon. The Tide beat the Crusaders in straight sets, 3-0.

The Tide opened up the season winning its first set by a score of 25-20. The second set was even better for the Tide as Ed Allen’s squad furthered its advantage over the Crusaders with a 25-15 score. In the final set, the Tide finished the match by winning by a score of 25-16.

Later that day, the Tide lost its first match of the season to Northeastern in its tightest match to date. The Tide lost the match 3-2, but not before one of the Tide’s leaders reached a milestone for her career. Kayla Fitterer did something only 13 other players in school history have done — reach 1,000 kills.

FItterer finished the Tide’s first match of the season with 999 overall kills, and when reacher her milestone early in the match against Northeastern. She finished with 16 kills and even moved up to 12th overall in school history.

The Tide’s final game of the weekend took place on Sunday when Ed Allen’s experienced squad faced Sacred Heart and took care of business. The Crimson Tide beat the Pioneers, 3-1.

Alabama lost the first set 15-25, but it rebounded nicely to win the rest of the sets 25-14, 25-19 and 25-12.

The Tide will return to the court on Tuesday evening against in-state foe Alabama A&M for its home opener in Foster Auditorium at 7 p.m.