University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Arkansas State
Arkansas State Blocks Memphis, 3-0
Aug 29, 2009 | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 29, 2009
Box Score
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -
Arkansas State (2-1) 25 25 25 Memphis (0-3) 16 14 22
Christine Bach notched her first career double-double with 11 assists and 13 digs, and senior Rachel Theard made a career-best 16 digs, but in the end it was the Arkansas State defense that won the battle as the Red Wolves made 15 total blocks and held Memphis to .049 hitting in a three-set decision Saturday night at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. The Tigers went 0-3 in the weekend's action. Freshman Altrese Hawkins was a bright spot, however, as she was voted to the 2009 Memphis Invitational All-Tournament Team. Southeast Missouri State claimed the tournament title after going 2-1.
Memphis struggled offensively and hit a combined -.016 in the first two sets. The opening set saw bth clubs battle through five early ties before the Red Wolves got their offense going. Tied at 7-7, ASU got a service ace from Brittany Hoag, followed by consecutive kills from Taylor Coughlin and Kelsie Hodges. Coughlin and Hodges combined on an assisted block and Cayla Fielder downed a kill to give the Red Wolves a 12-8 lead. Theard knotted the set at 15-15 with a back row kill, but that was the last time Memphis would be in the set as Arkansas State scored the next six points to take a commanding 21-15 advantage en route to a 25-16 final. Memphis hit just .059 in the period.
In the second period, the Red Wolves managed to break a 5-5 tie and extend their lead to 16-12 before scoring seven-straight points to take a two-game cushion into the intermission. Memphis was never able to get anything going on either side of the net in the set, hitting -.107. A-State hit .393 in the game.
Jauregui made some adjustments in the locker room and the Tigers put up their most competitive game of the night in the third. Memphis took a 9-7 lead after Lauren Thompson struck with one of her team-high nine kills. However, Arkansas State responded by scoring the next five points to surge ahead 12-9. Another kill by Thompson tied the frame at 14-all and the senior later gave Memphis a 20-19 lead with her fourth kill of the set. But again the Red Wolves retaliated, this time with four-straight for a 23-20 contest. Despite two more kills from Thompson, the Tigers could not extend the match in a 25-22 loss.
Memphis got 10 digs from Becky Shaffer, while its defense out dug ASU 61-47 in the match. However, the Red Wolves won the battle at the net, out blocking the Tigers 15-4.
The U of M returns to action next weekend when they travel to Missouri State to play in the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational. Memphis hits the court on Fri., Sept. 4, against Stephen F. Austin at 3 p.m.
2009 Memphis Invitational All-Tournament Team
MOP: Emily Hughes, SEMO
Karleigh DeLong, SEMO
Sarah Barth, SEMO
Brooke Maher, Evansville
Ellen Sawin, Evansville
Brittany Hoag, Arkansas State
Altrese Hawkins, Memphis
Tournament Champion: SEMO
Tournament Runner-Up: Evansville
