University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
East Carolina
Memphis Volleyball Drops Second-Straight, 3-1 at ECU
Oct 08, 2006 | Volleyball
Oct. 8, 2006
GREENVILLE, N.C. -
East Carolina 3, Memphis 1
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Memphis (16-3; 3-2 C-USA) 28 30 28 23 ECU (12-9; 3-4 C-USA) 30 20 30 30
For the first time this year, the University of Memphis volleyball team has dropped consecutive matches after losing to East Carolina 3-1 in Conference USA action on Sunday afternoon. Memphis falls to 16-4 overall as its league record evens at 3-3.
For the second consecutive outing Memphis outplayed its opponent on the stat sheet, but all was negated by 15 Tiger service errors and 13.0 blocks by ECU. The Tigers won the attacking battle with more kills (64-62), a higher attacking percentage (.242-.213) and more assists (60-50).
After Memphis' 9-3 rally fell just short in a 30-28 game-one loss, the Tigers managed to regroup to even the match at 1-1 in a dominant game two performance. The U of M followed a .395 clip in game one with a .333 average in the second period. Melissa Nance and Sarah Bury fueled a 4-0 run that put Memphis ahead 9-3 early and the Tigers only extended its lead from that point on, leading 17-10 midway through the frame. ECU cut the lead to four points, but Memphis responded by scoring on 12 of the next 18 rallies to take a 30-20 win.
The two teams played even through the first 12 points of game three, before ECU gained control, 15-12. Trailing 21-19, Memphis went to a 5-0 run to take a 24-21 advantage. The Pirates erased the U of M lead by finishing the game with a 10-4 push for the win.
Game four was all ECU, as they held Memphis to .087 hitting. The Pirates never trailed, leading by as much as eight points.
Memphis' offense was led by Shelby Burton and Bury, who both downed 17 kills. Melissa Nance had 14 kills, while Ashley Liford finished with 11. Laura Côté led all players with 59 assists and completed her double-double with 10 digs.
On the defensive side, Christen Clayton led all players with 19 digs. Nance and Burton finished with five and four blocks each.
Kelly Wernert Paced the ECU offense with 17 kills, while Trish Monroe had 11 digs.
Memphis will return home for a five-match homestand beginning on Tues., Oct. 10 when the Tigers host Belmont. First serve is slated for 7 p.m.
