Tigers Volleyball Defeats Houston Sunday

Sunday, November 13

Houston, Texas

1 pm

University of Memphis

13-15, 5-11American

Houston

5-22, 0-16American

Memphis

Houston

Photo by: Michael Wade

Nov 13, 2016 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Memphis-Houston Boxscore Memphis Season Stats

Memphis takes marathon five-setter by a 3-2 score.

HOUSTON, Texas – University of Memphis' Tai Bierria tied a season best for digs and junior Faith Myers posted a double-double to lift the Tigers volleyball squad to a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Houston Sunday afternoon. Memphis won the marathon five-setter by scores of 25-13, 18-25, 16-25, 25-19 and 15-12.

The win improved the Tigers to 13-15 overall and 5-11 in the American Athletic Conference. The Memphis win was its 900^th victory in program history. Houston fell to 5-22 overall and 0-16 in the league.

The Tigers had to fight back from a 2-1 match deficit for the win. Memphis grabbed the opening set, but then dropped the next two. The Tigers battled back and took the final two sets for the 3-2 victory. Memphis has a 3-3 record in five-set matches this season and is 3-1 in its last four five-setters.

"We are glad to get the win," said head coach April Jauregui. "We started the match really strong, but we didn't respond in the second and third sets when Houston made an aggressive push. They really flustered us with their serving. We made some good adjustments in the last two sets with our block and defense, and that was a key factor in being able to come back for the win.

"As we enter the final two weeks, we have to continue to stay together as a team and fight for wins. Right now, everyone is jockeying for position in the conference, and we are looking to do the same."

Bierria tied a season best with 14 digs versus Houston Sunday. The freshman also had six kills. Myers' double-double performance was her sixth of the season. She had 18 assists and 12 digs versus the Cougars.

Senior Catlin Lilly had another near double-double with nine kills and 10 digs. Fellow senior Summer Morgan had 10 kills for her sixth double-digit kills match of the season. It also was her second double-digit kills performance in the last three matches. Mady Ruhlman added 13 digs.

In the first three sets, the team with the early lead didn't give it up as there were only three lead changes. The Tigers led through the first set, and Houston stayed in front a majority of sets No. 2 and 3.

The Tigers' turning point came in the fourth set, and it proved the most-competitive game of the match with 10 ties and six lead changes. All 10 ties came in the first half of the set, with the last tie score at 12-all.

From there, the Tigers put an 8-3 run together to push out to a 20-15 advantage. Memphis scored seven of the eight points in the spurt off Houston errors. The Tigers maintained their lead the rest of the way for a 25-19 win.

Tied at 2-2, the match moved to the deciding fifth set that had four ties and three lead changes. All the ties and lead changes occurred in the set's first nine points, and Memphis held a 5-4 lead. It was an advantage the Tigers didn't relinquish.

Memphis went on a 6-2 spurt to extend its lead to 11-6 and come within four points of victory. Two Michaella Moss kills helped ignite the run. Houston climbed to within two points at 12-10, but got no closer. Lilly closed the match with two kills for the 15-12 win.

Memphis started the match in strong fashion, leading the first set from start-to-finish. The Tigers took the opening game 25-13. Houston turned the tables in the second and third sets, trailing only twice in those two games. The Cougars closed the second set with a 13-6 run for a 25-18 win, and then went on a 17-8 spurt in set No. 3 to claim it 25-16.