Following its second week of SEC play, Alabama now sits at 8-6 with an 0-4 SEC record. Here is a look at the team’s strengths and weaknesses from its previous two games.
Strengths
Offense spreading the wealth
Alabama’s offense has had its struggles to start the season, but multiple players have found some rhythm in Week 2.
Graduate transfer Victoria Barrett led the way Friday against Mississippi State with 46 total attacks as well as against Texas A&M on Sunday with 28. Lily Gervase, another transfer, led the team with a .684 hitting percentage Friday, her second highest of the season, while on Sunday Ashby Daniel led the way with .250 among players who played at least one full set.
“We’re being relentless,” middle blocker Ashby Daniel said. “A lot of people are coming in and out of spots and we are figuring out different ways to execute.”
Returning players for Alabama have also found their groove. Senior Sophie Agee had nine kills, 22 total attacks and a .364 hitting percentage against the Bulldogs. Junior Kaleigh Palmer had seven kills and 18 total attacks for 7.5 points against the Aggies.
Hannah Parant stepping up
Redshirt freshman Hannah Parant has started to find her groove two weeks into conference play. Following her stellar nonconference play, she has stepped up to help out on both sides of the ball, especially offensively where she leads the SEC with 32 service aces.
Against Mississippi State, she finished 32 assists, the 10th time this season she finished with 30+ assists. She also finished with three service aces, 4.5 points and defensively had six digs and a block. While playing Texas A&M, she finished with 20 assists and seven digs with another block.
Parant has been a gem for Alabama so far this season. As someone who can proficiently play both sides of the ball, she will be an important piece moving forward.
Weaknesses
Too many errors
It’s been an issue all season for Alabama, but once again against Mississippi State and Texas A&M there were too many errors, costing the team valuable points.
Against the Bulldogs, the Crimson Tide had 19 attacking errors, 13 service errors, six reception errors and two set errors. Of those attacking errors, 14 came in Sets 1 and 3, with the Crimson Tide pulling out a win in Set 1 but losing 25-18 in Set 3, with errors being a crucial reason. Three of the last five points given to the Bulldogs were because of attacking errors from Alabama.
The struggles continued against the Aggies. Alabama committed 21 attacking errors, three service errors, one blocking error and seven reception errors. Set 2 was the worst of the worst for the Crimson Tide, losing 25-9 and committing eight total errors.
“It’s just another learning experience,” Daniel said. “Very high level, and I think that we did a good job overall.”
Getting beat up front
Alabama has struggled up front with both blocks and getting off clean shots. The Crimson Tide is currently last in the SEC with a .201 hitting percentage, and both issues were present in this week’s matchup.
Against the Bulldogs, the Crimson Tide was held to a .231 hitting percentage, with two out of the four sets the Crimson Tide was held to under .220, compared to the Bulldogs who had a .289 hitting percentage and only had one set where they hit under .290. Alabama outblocked Mississippi State 6-5, but the Bulldogs offense was just too much.
The Aggies completely shut down the Crimson Tide’s offense on Sunday. Alabama had a .059 hitting percentage throughout the game including a -.111 in Set 2. On the other hand, Texas A&M had a .366 hitting percentage with its lowest set percentage being Set 3 at .297. The Aggies also out-blocked the Crimson Tide 9-5 and limited Alabama’s offensive ability.
