Tigers Volleyball Defeats Tulsa 3-1 Sunday

Sunday, October 16

Memphis, Tenn.

1 pm

University of Memphis

9-11, 1-7

Tulsa

13-7, 2-6

Tulsa

Memphis

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Oct 16, 2016 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Memphis-Tulsa Boxscore Memphis Season Stats

Lilly records double-double, Morgan ties career high in blocks

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis senior Catlin Lilly recorded a double-double in her second-straight match, and fellow senior Summer Morgan tied a career high in blocks to lift the Tigers volleyball squad to a 3-1 American Athletic Conference victory over Tulsa Sunday.

The Tigers won the match by scores of 25-13, 25-17, 22-25 and 25-20. The win improved Memphis to 9-11 overall and 1-7 in the league. Tulsa fell to 13-7 overall and 2-6 in the conference.

Lilly had her second double-double of the weekend and fourth of the season with a team-high 12 kills and 15 digs. Morgan tied a career high with nine blocks. She also had seven kills and three digs.

Faith Myers (19 assists) and Regan Comperry (18) split time at setter in Sunday's win. Freshman Tai Bierria nearly had a double-double with nine kills and eight digs. McKenzie Hayes added seven kills, and freshman Brianna Kadiku had eight kills.

"We're happy with how we played today, but we also played well Friday against SMU, one of the top teams in the conference," said head coach April Jauregui. "Our players followed the game plan we had this weekend and executed. It's nice to get a win, and I know what this team is capable of. There's still a lot of matches to be played.

"Our serving was excellent today, and we focused on that in Saturday's practice. Our seniors have stepped up lately. Catlin had a great weekend, and Summer had a great match today. When they bring that leadership to the court, everyone plays more relaxed. It was a great team effort today."

The Tigers erupted in the first set and took it by a 25-13 score. The score was tied three times in the early-going, but Memphis exploded in two runs. The first spurt was 6-3 to give the Tigers a 10-7 advantage. Kadiku had two kills in the run. After the Golden Hurricane pulled to within 10-9, Memphis put the first set away with a 15-4 spurt. Three-straight kills from Morgan pushed the Tigers' lead to 14-9, and later, kills from Kadiku and Lilly closed the first set.

The second set was much of the same for Memphis. The Tigers grabbed an early lead and built on it for a 25-17 second-set win. Tulsa jumped out to a 6-3 advantage, but Memphis came back to knot the set at 7-all. From that point, it was all Tigers. Memphis' first run was 7-3 to give the home squad a 14-10 lead. Two Morgan kills and one Lilly kill aided the spurt. The Golden Hurricane pulled to within three at 16-13, but did not get any closer. The Tigers closed with a 9-4 spurt to take the second set. Bierria had two kills in the set-closing run.

After intermission, the visitors from Tulsa picked up its level of play and took the third set 25-22. Memphis held an early 3-2 lead, but the Golden Hurricane roared out to take a 10-7 advantage. After the Tigers tied the set at 11-all, Tulsa answered with a 5-0 run for a 16-11 lead. Memphis made one final push to tie the set at 19-all, but could not gain the lead.

The fourth set was close throughout, with the largest lead the final 25-20 score. The final set had seven ties and five lead changes. Three of the five lead changes came in the crucial middle portion of the set. Down 18-17, Memphis made the final run of the set, going on a 6-2 spurt for a 23-19 advantage. Bierria was key for the Tigers in the final push with two kills. Morgan also scored a kill in the run. Tulsa closed to within 23-20, but Memphis closed out the set and match with the last two points.

Memphis continues its four-match homestand next weekend when it welcomes Houston and Tulane to the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. The Tigers host Houston Friday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. (CT) and Tulane Sunday, Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. (CT).