Memphis Volleyball Captures Tiger Invitational Crown

Saturday, September 3

Memphis, Tenn.

2 pm

University of Memphis

4-2

Louisiana Tech

3-3

Louisiana Tech

Memphis

Photo by: Brandon Dill

Memphis Volleyball Captures Tiger Invitational Crown

Sep 03, 2016 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Memphis-Louisiana Tech Boxscore Memphis Season Stats

Tigers post 3-1 win over Louisiana Tech in Saturday's title match.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Call it a "bounce-back" weekend for the University of Memphis volleyball team.

After a 1-2 start, Memphis swept through this weekend's Tiger Invitational with a 3-0 record, including Saturday's 3-1 championship-match victory over Louisiana Tech. The Tigers defeated the Lady Techsters by scores of 26-24, 24-26, 25-22 and 25-19.

On Friday, Memphis posted wins over both Jackson State and Eastern Illinois by 3-0 scores.

With the three wins, Memphis improved its record to 4-2. Louisiana Tech evened its record at 3-3.

"This feels a lot better than last weekend," said Tigers head coach April Jauregui. "This was a great test for us in the pre-conference season. Louisiana Tech plays with a lot of energy and has a great coach. It was an intense match, and I feel we grew a lot in this match."

Senior Summer Morgan was named the Tiger Invitational Most Outstanding Player. She had 11 kills and two blocks in the match. Her key block sealed the third-set win that propelled Memphis to a 2-1 advantage in the match.

Fellow senior Michaella Moss also earned Tiger Invitational All-Tournament Team honors with 18 digs in the match. In her first career action at libero this weekend, Moss collected 58 digs over the tournament's three matches.

"Mickey (Moss) was able to pick up a lot of balls – including short balls along the net – that we weren't getting to last weekend, and that was the big difference," Jauregui said. "Mickey also has a calming presence on the court.

"Our goal was to improve our passing and defense and hope that would generate some offense, and I believe we were able to do that."

Seniors Catlin Lilly and McKenzie Hayes played big roles in the Tigers' championship-match victory Saturday, with both posting double-doubles. Lilly had 14 kills and 11 digs, and Hayes added 10 kills and 12 digs. Junior Regan Comperry also had a double-double with 47 assists and 17 digs. Freshman Addison Root recorded her first collegiate double-digit kills match with a season-high 12.

"Our seniors stepped up today, and I also thought our freshmen grew up too," said Jauregui. "Addison took some big-time swings today. Regan also had a good match and set the ball well."

The match was tight throughout with 20 ties and eight lead changes in the four sets.

After two grueling 26-24 sets which the teams split, Memphis and Louisiana Tech entered the third set with each trying to gain the match's advantage. In a back-and-forth third set, the Tigers gained the early lead, jumping out 8-4. Lilly recorded two kills in the early third-set run.

The Lady Techsters, though, answered with a 9-3 spurt to take a 13-11 advantage. The third set remained close and was tied at 17-all when Memphis put together a 4-0 spurt for a 21-17 lead. Louisiana Tech, however, responded with a 5-1 run to knot the third set at 22-all. Memphis sealed the third set with the final three points. A Root kill put Memphis ahead 23-22, and a Mady Ruhlman service ace gave the Tigers a 24-22 lead. Morgan put the finishing touch on the third set with a block for the 25-22 win.

In the fourth set, Memphis jumped out to a 4-1 lead and never trailed. The Tigers held a seven-point advantage four times on the way to a 25-19 win in the final set.

The first two sets were 26-24 nail-biters. Memphis took the first set, but held off a late Louisiana Tech rally to do so. The Tigers led 24-17, and the Lady Techsters scored seven-straight points to tie the set at 24-all. Memphis scored the final two points for the first-set victory.

The second set had 11 ties and five lead changes, and largest lead of the set was four points. As in the first set, Memphis held a 24-20 lead late, but Louisiana Tech scored the final six points for the 26-24 win.