University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Tulsa
Tulsa Tops Memphis in Straight Sets
Oct 28, 2011 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 28, 2011
TULSA, Okla. - The University of Memphis volleyball team dropped its third consecutive Conference USA game, falling in straight sets (19-25;27-29;19-25) to Tulsa at the Reynolds Center. Marija Jovanovic (15), Altrese Hawkins (13) and Lauren Hawkins (10) all registered double digit kills in the loss.
Jovanovic also totaled seven digs and three blocks in the loss, while Hajnalka Molnar finished with 40 assists and eight digs. Aleksandra Petronijevic finished the match with 14 digs to lead the defensive effort. The Tigers hit .279 as a team and had more kills (46) and digs (44) than Tulsa.
Memphis took an early 7-4 lead in the first set after two kills from L. Hawkins and three from Katie Meyer. Tulsa fought back to take its first lead of the set at 11-10 after Tyler Henderson downed two kills and Jessica Adams registered a service ace. The Tigers would get within 17-16 after kills from Jovanovic and Molnar, but Miriele Gobbo downed a kill and teamed with Henderson for a block assist to put Tulsa back in front 19-16. The Golden Hurricane went on to close the set out 25-19.
Despite L. Hawkins and A. Hawkins teaming for five kills in the Tigers' first six points of the second set, Tulsa was able to open up a 10-6 advantage early. Kills from Henderson and Silva combined with a duo of errors by the Tigers allowed the Golden Hurricane to extend its lead to 15-10 before Memphis went on a 6-2 run to make the set 17-16. The Tigers kept pressure on the Golden Hurricane for the next several points, getting within one point of Tulsa until they finally tied the set at 22.
Tulsa the scored two-straight points and forced a set point at 24-22, but A. Hawkins responded with a kill to initiate a 3-0 Tiger run that gave Memphis a set point at 25-24. Tulsa's Henderson downed a powerful kill to keep the Golden Hurricane alive, however. Memphis had another set point at 27-26, but a service error tied it at 27. Tulsa then closed the set out 29-27 after back-to-back kills by Carly Boatwright and Kellie Culbertson.
The teams traded points early in the third set before a kill by Vesna Jelic and a block from A. Hawkins and L. Hawkins gave the Tigers a 6-4 lead. Tulsa took advantage of Memphis service errors to tie the set at nine before two service aces from Diana Silva put the Golden Hurricane in front for good at 12-9. Tulsa pushed the lead to 18-13 behind another Memphis error and kill by Silva and then went on to close the set out 25-19 and the match, 3-0.
Silva and Culbertson each finished with nine kills to lead Tulsa's attack, while Gobbo finished with eight. Preseason C-USA Player of the Year Tyler Henderson finished with seven kills in the match. Jordan and Bailey Clampit registered 26 assists and 12 assists, respectively, while Jessica Adams anchored the back row defense with 13 digs.
Memphis now travels to Dallas, Texas for a 1 p.m. match against SMU on Sunday.
