Volleyball Wins Two at Belmont Bruiser Showcase

Friday, September 4

Nashville, Tenn.

10:00 AM

University of Memphis

3-1

UTEP

1-3

UTEP

Memphis

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Sep 04, 2015 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Tigers move to 4-1 on the year.

By: Tammy DeGroff

NASHVILLE – Led by back-to-back double-digit kill performances from junior outside Catlin Lilly, the University of Memphis volleyball team (4-1) picked up a pair of non-conference wins, Friday. Memphis defeated UTEP (1-3) in the morning matchup, 25-12, 18-25, 25-18, 25-16, then swept South Alabama (2-4), 25-20, 25-18, 25-20 to move to 4-1 on the year.

"It is nice to see us continue to improve each set and every match," Head Coach April Jauregui said. "We have had players step up in their roles and that only brings more confidence in our substitutions and our system. Our goal is to focus on the process and continue to improve every time we step on the court."

In the morning match, Memphis quickly jumped up over UTEP, taking a quick 25-12 first set victory thanks to five first set kills and a .455 hitting percentage from junior right side McKenzie Hayes. Sophomore Oluchi Agomuo helped the Tiger defense dig up Miner attacks, posting six of her eventual seven digs in the first set.

The Miners adjusted to Hayes on the right side and stifled the Memphis offense to a .125 clip in the second set while hitting .324 to knot the match at one set apiece. But Memphis answered back as freshman Mady Ruhlman dug up 11 Miner attacks in the third, helping set up the Tiger offense. In all, four different Memphis players downed three or more kills in the third set, and Memphis took the set 25-18 to lead 2-1.

Lilly then took over the offense in the fourth set, downing eight kills with just one error on 15 swings (.467 hitting percentage). Behind her eight kills, and Lindsey Purvis' six fourth set digs, Memphis closed out their third win of the year with a 25-16 fourth set score. The 3-1 Memphis victory snapped a three-match losing streak to UTEP that dated back to 2011.

Lilly led Memphis with a season-best 16 kills, adding 13 digs for a double-double. Hayes finished with 12 kills on 33 attempts, both season-highs, while senior middle Torika Baleilekutu added at least two kills in each set to finish with 10 kills on 16 swings and a .562 hitting percentage, all career bests. Ruhlman posted her first collegiate 20-dig outing, finishing with 20 digs and one service ace, while Lilly and Veronica Zimmerman each had 13 digs in the win. Zimmerman led the offense with 49 assists, adding a season-best three service aces in the win.

In the second match of the day, Memphis used balanced offense to take a 25-20 first set victory with all six starters posting at least two kills in the opening set. Lilly then made sure Memphis did not suffer a second set setback, hitting .667 with six kills on nine attacks, in a 25-18 win. Lilly then helped Memphis close the win with six kills in the third set, finishing with 15 for the match, in a 25-20 win. Agomuo led the defense with 17 digs, tying her career high, while Ruhlman finished with 13 digs and Summer Morgan added three blocks. Morgan tied her season high with eight kills in both matches Friday.

For the second Saturday in a row, Memphis will close a tournament against the home team in their final match. Memphis will face host Belmont at 2 p.m., Saturday. The Bruins are 0-4 heading in to their Friday night match against UTEP, but with a home crowd, the Bruins have plenty of multi-set match experience already this season to draw from. Belmont lost two matches, 3-2, last weekend at the Ball State tournament, and lost 3-1 to South Alabama earlier Friday. The last time Memphis and Belmont matched up, Memphis lost a 2-0 lead and needed a 16-14 fifth set win for the 3-2 win.

Free live video of the Saturday afternoon match will be available on the OVC Digital Network HERE.

Memphis returns to the Elma Roane Fieldhouse next weekend when it hosts the Memphis Invitational. The Tigers will open against UAPB, Friday, at 2 p.m., then host SEC foe Auburn, at 7 p.m., Friday. Saturday, Sept. 12, Memphis will host Tennessee Tech, at noon, then will host Little Rock, who ended last season ranked No. 24 in the country, at 7 p.m.

Admission to all U of M home volleyball matches is free.