Volleyball Tangles With Temple

Sunday, November 1

Memphis, Tenn.

1:00 PM

University of Memphis

14-11, 5-7American

Temple

17-7, 8-4American

Temple University

Memphis

Nov 01, 2015 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Tigers take it to four before falling to Owls.

By: Tammy DeGroff

MEMPHIS – The University of Memphis volleyball team (14-11, 5-7 American) split the first two sets with second place Temple (17-7, 8-4 American), but could not complete the upset, falling 3-1 in American Athletic Conference play, Sunday.

"We will just keep fighting and working hard," Head Coach April Jauregui said. "I think we showed some good things in spots today. Our effort and heart are there. I know this team will continue to work hard in practice, they have shown that all season. We have to stay positive and together."

Memphis dropped the opening set, 25-15, but battled back in a second set that saw seven ties and four lead changes. Memphis trailed by as many as four at 14-10 when a McKenzie Hayes kill started a 4-1 Memphis run that cut the deficit to one at 15-14. Temple tried to get away from Memphis again, getting to the 20-point mark first, forcing a Memphis timeout with the Tigers down two. Summer Morgan downed one of her seven kills out of the timeout and a Temple attack error tied it up at 20. The two teams knotted up again at 22 before Hayes downed another kill, forcing Temple to take a timeout with Memphis up 23-22. Out of the timeout, Hayes again downed a ball, forcing the Owls to take their final timeout of the set with Memphis at set point. The Owls got one point back, but Veronica Zimmerman backset a ball on two for the 25-23 second set win and to tie the match at 1-all.

After the break, Temple came out and jumped to a quick 4-1 lead. Spreading the ball around to four different hitters, the Owls stretched that lead to 10-4 and Memphis could never reel the visitors back in, falling 25-16 in the set. The Owls' offense took charge in the fourth set, hitting .571 on 28 attacks and holding Memphis to just six kills on 29 balls and a .069 attack percentage.

Temple had four different players with double-digit kills, led by 13 for Tyler Davis. Alyssa Drachslin led all players with 21 digs and setter Sandra Sydlik dished out 51 assists.

Memphis was led by freshman middle Kelsey Walter, who made her first home start of the season. Walter finished with nine kills and a .304 attack percentage, adding one block, but getting whistled for four blocking errors. Morgan, Catlin Lilly and Hayes all added seven kills. Morgan led all players with six total blocks, while freshman Mady Ruhlman led the defense with 15 digs.

The home slate continues for Memphis this weekend, but does not get any easier, with league-leading SMU visiting Friday for a 7 p.m. contest. The five-match home stand will continue on Sunday when Tulsa visits for a 1 p.m. match.