Tigers Volleyball Falls To UCF Sunday

Sunday, November 6

Memphis, Tenn.

1 pm

University of Memphis

12-14,4-10

UCF

20-7,10-4

UCF

Memphis

Photo by: Michael Wade

Nov 06, 2016 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Memphis-UCF Boxscore Memphis Season Stats

Lilly becomes 11th player with 1,000 kills, 1,000 digs for a career.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis senior Summer Morgan had 10 kills and six blocks and fellow senior Catlin Lilly hit a milestone in Sunday's American Athletic Conference volleyball match, but UCF came away with a 3-1 win. The Knights prevailed in the match by scores of 25-19, 25-21, 16-25 and 25-20.

The loss dropped Memphis to 12-14 overall and 4-10 in The American. The setback also halted the Tigers' four-match homecourt win streak. UCF improved to 20-7 overall and 10-4 in the league.

"We made some good adjustments in the third set, but our offense struggled today," said head coach April Jauregui. "We gave ourselves some opportunities. I wish we had started stronger early in the match. If you don't win that first set, it makes it hard to come back.

"I believe we are playing good volleyball. We have gotten so much better than we were in August. Our goal is for continued improvement and pick up some wins in the final stretch of the season."

Lilly reached the milestone in the second set when she collected dig No. 1,000 for her career. Earlier this season, Lilly recorded her 1,000^th career kill in an Aug. 26 match versus Central Arkansas. She is only the 11^th player with 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in program history.

Lilly finished Sunday's match with another near double-double, posting eight kills and eight digs. She also had three blocks.

Morgan's performance was one of her best of the season. The 10 kills were the most since she had 11 versus Louisiana Tech Sept. 3, and her six blocks were the most since she had nine versus Tulsa Oct. 16.

Senior McKenzie Hayes led Memphis with 12 kills, marking the fourth time in the last five matches she reached double-digit kills. Mady Ruhlman collected a match-high 15 digs, and Regan Comperry had 22 assists.

After dropping the first two sets, Memphis played inspired in the third game and won easily 25-16. As it did in the previous sets, Memphis jumped out to an early lead (4-1) only to see UCF respond and tie the game (5-5).

The third set, though, was different for the Tigers. Memphis used a 13-5 spurt to take a commanding 18-10 advantage. A Lilly kill started the run, and kills from Morgan and Michaella Moss kept the spurt going. The Knights pulled to within seven four times the rest of the way, but got no closer. Two more Moss kills down the stretch gave Memphis the 25-16 win and cut the UCF match lead to 2-1.

The Tigers looked to carry that momentum into set No. 4. Memphis and UCF were tied nine times in the set's first 22 points. From there, the Knights pushed out to a small lead, and that was enough for the visitors. UCF used a 3-0 mini-run for a 14-11 advantage. The Tigers closed to within one at 15-14, but was unable to get the equalizer. UCF regained some more breathing room at 19-15, before closing out the match with a 25-20 fourth-set win.

In the first two sets, Memphis came out of the gate quick and grabbed early leads (6-1 in the first, 6-2 in the second). UCF, however, responded immediately both times to get back in the sets.

The first set saw Memphis up 12-11, but the Knights put together a 10-5 run to go back in front at 21-17. UCF took the opener 25-19.

The second game had the Tigers holding a narrow 18-16 advantage. UCF answered with a 9-3 finish to the second set for the 25-21 win.

Memphis now goes on the road for four-straight conference matches over the next two weekends. The Tigers begin the road swings with trips to Tulane Friday, Nov. 11 and Houston Sunday, Nov. 13.