Morgan Downs Career-Best 14 Kills in Loss to Tulsa

Sunday, November 8

Memphis, Tenn.

1:00 PM

University of Memphis

14-13, 5-9American

Tulsa

12-14, 7-7American

Tulsa

Memphis

Photo by: Brandon Dill

Nov 08, 2015 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Tigers fall 3-1.

By: Tammy DeGroff

MEMPHIS – Junior middle Summer Morgan had a career-best 14 kills, but it was not enough to offset a Tulsa offense that hit .300 or better in three of four sets in a 3-1 Golden Hurricane win, Sunday afternoon at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. The loss drops Memphis to 14-13 on the season and 5-9 in American Athletic Conference play, while Tulsa improves to 12-14 overall and 7-7 in the conference.

The Golden Hurricanes' blocking game made all the difference in the first set, out-blocking Memphis in a 25-19 first set win. The Tulsa defense held Memphis to a .114 hitting clip while the Golden Hurricane hit .325, led by a .500 hitting clip from Erica Bohannon, who was 6-for-12 for a .500 hitting percentage in the first set. Teammates Sophie Bethke and Ebony Carter each hit .750 in the first set win.

Memphis tied it up at 1-all with a 25-23 win in the second set. The Tigers' defense out-blocked Tulsa 4-2 and dug up 17 attacks to hold the Golden Hurricane to a .053 attack percentage in the second set. Torika Baleilekutu posted three of her nine kills in the second set win, while senior libero Lindsey Purvis dug up seven balls to keep resetting the offense. Purvis finished with 26 digs, just three shy of a career-high, for the match.

But Tulsa came out and again Bohannon led the TU offense, with four kills in a third set 25-19 victory that gave the visitors the 2-1 advantage. Three Golden Hurricane service aces, and six team blocks in the third set alone pushed Tulsa past Memphis for the set win.

Bohannon then put the home team away in the fourth set, hitting .529 with 10 kills on 17 attacks against just one error en route a 25-18 win that sealed the match, 3-1.

Morgan was the lone Tiger in double-digit kills, finishing with 14. Baleilekutu added nine kills and a team-high four blocks, while Oluchi Agomuo added eight kills and 11 digs. Purvis led the defense with a game-high 26 digs, while Faith Myers led Memphis with 26 assists.

Memphis closes out the five-match home stand, Wednesday, when travel partner Cincinnati comes to the Elma Roane Fieldhouse for a 7 p.m. contest.