University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Volleyball Opening Home Slate With Four Weekend Matches
Sep 10, 2015 | Women's Volleyball
Tigers hosting UAPB and Auburn Friday.
MEMPHIS – Four matches in two days. That's what awaits the University of Memphis volleyball team (4-2) as the Tigers host the Memphis Invitational at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse, Friday and Saturday.
Memphis will play two matches Friday, facing Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-7) at 2 p.m., then facing SEC foe Auburn (4-2) at 7 p.m. Saturday's slate will find Memphis squaring off against Tennessee Tech (0-6) at noon and facing Little Rock (2-4), a team that finished No. 24 in the national rankings last year, at 7 p.m.
The Tigers are coming off back-to-back championship match appearances in their season-opening tournaments at Georgia and at Belmont. Memphis fell 3-0 to Georgia in the championship match, then was edged 3-2 by Belmont last Saturday in that championship match. But with back-to-back home tournaments rounding out the non-conference schedule, the Tiger coaches are looking to sort out some positions in a condensed period of time that ends with a conference road game at Cincinnati on Sept. 23.
"We are looking at a stretch with eight matches in 12 days," Head Coach April Jauregui said. "This weekend gives us a chance to try some different lineups and get people experience. We don't have too many more chances before conference play starts to get people some experience in those roles."
One of those roles likely solidified last weekend, as junior outside Catlin Lilly averaged 4.25 kills per set and hit .396, earning her American Athletic Conference weekly honor roll mentions. In the championship match, Lilly downed 20 kills on 34 attacks, hitting .471, just her second 20-kill match of her career.
"Catlin had a great weekend, I'm really proud of her," Jauregui said. "I wanted to put her in this position and in that role because I feel like she can be that player for us – a big terminator, a leader on the court, energy, you saw that continuing to build over the weekend. In clutch situations, she was the one we wanted to get the ball to. She had over four kills a game and hit over .400, so we're excited to see what's going to happen this coming weekend."
But just because Memphis is at home doesn't mean the Tigers are overlooking any opponents this weekend, especially with the level of competition stepped up with conference play just a little under two weeks ago.
"Last year, I think our last two weekends were maybe a little easier in that on paper we were probably better than the teams we played. This year, our last two tournaments are a little tougher. And we did that on purpose, to prepare for conference play," Jauregui said. "We have Auburn coming in, UALR was a tournament team last year, it's going to be a tough, tough weekend. But we want that challenge. The great thing for our team is they get to sleep in their own bed and don't have to miss classes and we have great support at home matches, so I expect we'll have some big crowds this weekend."
Admission for all University of Memphis home volleyball matches is free. Parking is available in the attached parking garage at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse for $5.00 (cash only).
