Tigers Volleyball Drops Decision To Belmont Saturday

Saturday, August 27

Memphis, Tenn.

2 pm

University of Memphis

1-2

Belmont

3-0

Belmont

Memphis

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Tigers Volleyball Drops Decision To Belmont Saturday

Aug 27, 2016 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Memphis-Belmont Boxscore

Morgan named to Memphis Invitational All-Tournament Team.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis volleyball squad put together a valiant third-set effort, but it couldn't offset Belmont's early 2-0 lead on its way to a 3-1 win over the Tigers in Saturday's final match of the 2016 Memphis Invitational.

With the setback, Memphis fell to 1-2 on the young season. Belmont improved to 3-0 and took the Memphis Invitational crown with its perfect mark. Central Arkansas defeated Chicago State 3-1 in Saturday's early match and finished as the invitational's runner-up.

Summer Morgan, who had a team-high 10 kills, was named to the Memphis Invitational All-Tournament Team. Belmont's Emma Price earned the tournament's Most Outstanding Player honors.

In addition to her 10 kills, Morgan had 2.5 blocks and two digs. Senior Catlin Lilly nearly posted a double-double with nine blocks and 10 digs. Lilly finished the two-day tournament with 31 kills in three matches.

Regan Comperry and Faith Myers each totaled 14 assists, and Comperry had nine digs. Mady Ruhlman recorded a team-high 14 digs, and McKenzie Hayes had seven kills.

As it did in Friday's setback to Central Arkansas, Memphis dropped the first two sets and found itself playing from behind early. Belmont jumped out to an early first-set lead and never trailed on the way to a 25-20 win in the opener. Lilly had five of her nine kills in the first set.

In the second set, the Tigers jumped out to a 3-1 advantage and maintained that lead at 15-12 on a Lilly kill. Memphis led 17-16, but the Bruins responded with a 6-2 spurt to take a 22-19 lead. Belmont held on for the second set 25-21.

Memphis picked up the pace in the third set and grabbed a 10-8 lead, and then took it up a notch with a 6-0 run to extend its advantage to 16-8. Two Hayes' kills spurred the Memphis run. From that point, the Tigers stayed in front for the 25-22 win.

Belmont wrapped up the match win with a fourth-set 25-15 victory. The set was tied at 6-all before a 9-0 Bruins spurt put them ahead to stay at 15-6.

Memphis returns to action Sept. 2-3 when it hosts the Tiger Invitational at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. The Tigers join Eastern Illinois, Jackson State and Louisiana Tech in the two-day tournament field. Memphis begins play in the Tiger Invitational against Jackson State Friday, Sept. 2 at 12 p.m. (CT).