Tigers Volleyball Falls At East Carolina Friday

Friday, October 7

Greenville, N.C.

6 pm

University of Memphis

8-9, 0-5AAC

East Carolina

11-5, 1-5AAC

Memphis

East Carolina

Photo by: Michael Wade

Oct 07, 2016 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Memphis-East Carolina Boxscore Memphis Season Stats

Hayes, Myers both record double-doubles vs. the Pirates.

GREENVILLE, N.C. – University of Memphis senior McKenzie Hayes recorded her second double-double of the season, and fellow senior Catlin Lilly collected a season high in kills, but it wasn't enough as the Tigers dropped a 3-2 decision at East Carolina Friday.

The Pirates won the match by scores of 22-25, 25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 15-9. The setback dropped the Tigers to 8-9 overall and 1-5 in The American. The Pirates improved to 11-5 overall and 1-5 in the conference.

Memphis continues this weekend's conference road swing Sunday, Oct. 9 at Cincinnati. Match time is 12 p.m. (CT).

Hayes posted her double-double with a season-best 16 kills and 10 digs. The 16 kills were Hayes' most since she had 17 kills against Tulane last season. Lilly's team-best 18 kills were her highest output since she had 20 kills versus Belmont in 2015.

Junior Faith Myers had her third double-double of the season with 34 assists and 10 digs. Myers' 34 assists were a season high. Freshman Tai Bierra had a season-high 14 digs, and fellow freshman teammate Brianna Kadiku posted six kills and nine total blocks. Mady Ruhlman led the Tigers with 15 digs.

Memphis had a come-from-behind win in set No. 4 at 25-20, but was unable to carry that momentum over into the final set. In the deciding set, East Carolina broke open a 4-all tie with a 4-0 run to take an 8-4 advantage and control of the match. After a Summer Morgan kill made it 8-5, the Pirates put together another 4-0 spurt to increase its lead to 12-5. East Carolina took the final set 15-9.

The Tigers fought back in the fourth set to tie the match at 2-2. The fourth set was tied at 10-all, and a 3-0 Pirates spurt put the home squad in front 13-10. East Carolina maintained that three-point lead until 16-13 when the Tigers roared back. Memphis scored the match's next five points to take an 18-16 lead. Kadiku had two kills, and Hayes added another score in the run. After the Pirates closed to within 18-17, the Tigers went on another 3-0 spurt for a 21-17 advantage. Hayes powered the Memphis run with two more kills. The Tigers won the fourth set 25-20.

In the third set, the score was tied five times, but East Carolina never fell behind and won 25-20.

The second set was the tightest with eight ties and three lead changes. The last tie was at 12-all, and from there, the Pirates put together a 6-2 run to take control at 18-14. Memphis got no closer than two points the rest of the set.

Memphis opened the match in strong fashion with the first-set victory. The set was tied at 4-all, but a 6-2 Tigers run gave the visitors a 10-6 lead. Two Morgan kills ignited the Memphis spurt. The Tigers opened up a seven-point advantage at 18-11 only to have East Carolina come back to take a 20-19 lead. The first set was tied at 22-all, and Memphis scored the final three points for the 25-22 win.