University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Evansville
Tiger Volleyball Wins Evansville Aces Invitational
Aug 27, 2006 | Volleyball
Aug. 26, 2006
Box Score
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -
Memphis 3, Evansville 1
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Memphis (2-0) 25 30 30 30 Evansville (1-2) 30 25 16 26
Memphis 3, Austin Peay 2Download Free Acrobat Reader
Memphis (2-0) 30 28 30 26 15 Austin Peay (0-2) 19 30 25 30 4
Junior middle hitter Shelby Burton crushed a career-high 22 kills versus Austin Peay and followed with a match-high 16 kills against Evansville as Memphis wrapped up a perfect weekend with a 3-2 win over APSU and a 3-1 triumph over EU en route to taking the 2006 University of Evansville Aces Invitational. Burton was named the Invitational's MVP, while Christen Clayton and Melissa Nance also earned all-tournament recognition.
It took the Tigers a game to get things going in the nightcap as they saw Evansville take a 16-10 midway through the opening frame. The Purple Aces extended their lead to 22-13 before Memphis staged a five-point rally to close the gap to 22-18. But that would be as close as Memphis could get in a 30-25 loss.
Memphis returned to form for the next three sets. Redshirt freshman Rebekah Strickland provided a lift for the Tigers in games two and three, downing five kills and recording three block assists. Memphis held Evansville's offense under .100 hitting in each of the final three frames. Freshman Lauren Thompson also gave the Tigers added energy, chipping in with three kills, five service aces and six digs.
Defensively, Clayton made 21 defensive digs for the second-straight match. Liford posted her second-consecutive double-double with 14 kills and 13 digs. Sarah Bury had 11 kills. Laura Côtè ran the offense efficiently, handing out 55 assists, while also adding 10 digs.
Burton finished the morning contest with a .656 attack percentage as Memphis battled to a hard-fought five-game win over the Lady Governors. After the Lady Govs forced a fifth and deciding game with a 30-26 win in the fourth frame, Memphis jumped out to a 7-4 lead. That's when senior middle blocker Melissa Nance took over the contest, nailing four kills and chipping in on an assisted block to seal to the victory. Nance posted 13 kills in the match. The Tigers were close to unstoppable in the final set, hitting .700 with seven kills and no errors.
For the second consecutive outing, the Tigers dominated play in the first game, taking a 1-0 lead via a 30-19 game one win. Ahead 4-3, Memphis made a 6-0 push to take control of the first frame, 10-3. The Tigers, who hit .410 in the first game, led by as much as 13 points on three occasions before Burton's game-winner.
Game two was not so kind to the Tigers as they fell behind early after the Lady Govs put together a 7-0 run to take a 13-8 lead. From there Memphis was never able to recover despite a late rally that cut the deficit to 26-28.
Memphis regrouped in the third frame and opened the game with a 7-2 cushion. Burton slammed eight kills on nine attempts and Clayton made seven of her match-high 21 digs to guide the Tigers to a 30-25 triumph.
Liford and Bury each notched double-doubles for Memphis. Côtè posted 66 assists.
Memphis will return to the court next weekend, when it travels to Troy, Ala. to play in the Trojan Invitational.
