University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
SMU
SMU Rallies to Defeat Memphis, 3-2
Oct 30, 2011 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 30, 2011
Box Score
DALLAS, Texas. - Three SMU players registered double-digit kills as the Mustangs rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win three-straight sets and defeat Memphis 3-2 (25-23;25-21;16-25;14-25;13-15) Sunday afternoon at Moody Coliseum.
Altrese Hawkins led the Tigers with 20 kills, but the Tigers were frustrated by the Mustangs' defense and only hit .121 for the match. Marija Jovanovic also finished with double-digit kills, downing 16 to go along with seven digs. Vesna Jelic finished with a double-double of 10 kills and 12 digs, while setter Hajnalka Molnar also registered a double-double of 48 assists and 10 digs.
SMU sprinted out to an early 5-1 lead in the first set, which forced Memphis to call a timeout. The Mustangs were not deterred, however, and extended their lead to 11-3 before the Tigers found their footing. An attack error by Kenrick Koch started a 6-0 run by the Tigers that was highlighted by two aces from Vensa Jelic. Trailing 11-13, A. Hawkins, Jelic and Jovanovic teamed for three-straight kills before a block by Katie Meyer gave Memphis its first lead of the set at 14-13.
Two Memphis attack error and a kill by the Mustangs allowed them to regain an 18-15 advantage, however. Hawkins and Jelic registered back-to-back kills that started a 4-1 and gave Memphis a 20-19 lead. The teams traded points until an attack error by A. Hawkins gave SMU a 23-22 lead. Hawkins came right back with a kill for Memphis on the next play to tie the set at 23, and Jovanovic regained the lead for Memphis with a kill that made it 24-23. SMU called a timeout before an attack error by Caroline Young sealed the set for Memphis, 25-23.
Memphis started the second set on a 6-3 run was capped by block assists from Jovanovic and Lauren Hawkins and an ace by Jovanovic. The Tigers were leading 10-8 before SMU went on a 5-1 run powered by two blocks and two Memphis attack errors. Trailing 13-11, the Tigers reeled off a 9-0 run to take a commanding 20-13 advantage. SMU didn't quit, however, and the Mustangs pulled within 23-21 and forced Memphis to call a timeout. A kill by Jovanovis and an attack error by the Mustangs sealed the set for Memphis, 25-21.
SMU and Memphis played even in the third set, but the Mustangs opened up an 8-4 lead after a kill by Dana Powell. Jelic downed a kill tow make it 8-5, but SMU scored four consecutive points to make it 12-5 and force the Tigers to take a timeout. SMU extended its lead to as many as nine when a kill by Oliver points the Mustangs in front 18-9. The closest Memphis would come was 22-15 after a kill by Lauren Hawkins. Memphis would score one more points, but a kill by Young sealed the set 25-16 for SMU.
The Mustangs continued their momentum from the third set and went on a 5-0 run to start the fourth, forcing Memphis to call a timeout. Jovanovic responded with a kill out of the timeout, but SMU pushed its lead to 10-4. A kill by Savannah Myklebust and an attack error by Jovanovic extended SMU's advantage to 12-5. The Tigers would get as close as 14-8 after back-to-back kills by A. Hawkins and Jovanovic, but SMU closed the set out 25-14 and force a deciding fifth set.
Dana Powell made an attack error on the first play of the fifth set to give Memphis a 1-0 advantage until the teams traded points and found themselves tied at seven. Another SMU attack error and A. Hawkins 19th kill of the match gave Memphis a 9-7 advantage and forced SMU to call a timeout.
L. Hawkins serve attempt was out on the first play out of the timeout and A. Hawkins' was attacked on the following play, which allowed SMU to net the set at 9.
The teams each scored a point and tied the score at 10 before A. Hawkins and Meyer combined for a block to regain the lead 11-10 for Memphis. A kill by Vesna Jelic on the ensuing play gave Memphis a 12-10 lead and forced SMU to take a timeout. The Mustangs responded out of the time out with a block and a kill to tie the set at 12. After a Memphis timeout, Myklebust downed a kill that gave SMU its first lead of the set 13-12. Another kill by the Mustangs caused another timeout by Memphis, which found itself facing match point down 14-12. Jovanovic staved off the first set point with a kill, but SMU responded with a kill by Dana Powell to seal the set 15-13 and the match 3-2.
Memphis returns home for back-to-back matches on Thursday, Nov. and Friday, Nov. 5 against UCF. Both games are at 7 p.m., and admission is only one dollar for the game on Nov. 5.
