Volleyball Wins At Connecticut 3-2

Sunday, October 21

Storrs, Conn.

11 am

University of Memphis

10-11, 3-6AAC

Connecticut*

11-11, 3-6AAC

MEM

UConn

Photo by: Brandon Dill

Oct 21, 2018 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Boxscore (UM 3, UC 2)Memphis Season Statistics (Overall)Memphis Season Statistics (Conference Only)

Flowers, Bivins combine for 31 kills in the victory.

STORRS, Conn. – University of Memphis' one-two offensive punch of Hannah Flowers and Kelsea Bivins combined for 31 kills to lift the Tigers to a thrilling 3-2 American Athletic Conference victory over Connecticut at Gampel Pavilion Sunday.

The Tigers won the match by scores of 26-24, 25-22, 20-25, 18-25 and 17-15. With the win, Memphis improves to 10-11 overall and 3-6 in The American. The Huskies fall to 11-11 overall and 3-6 in the league.

Flowers led the Tigers with 16 kills, and Bivins added 15. The tandem also combined for six aces, 12 digs and three total blocks.

Up Next
Memphis returns home to the Elma Roane Fieldhouse next weekend to host Cincinnati and ECU. The Tigers and Bearcats tangle at 7 p.m. (CT) Friday. Memphis welcome ECU to the Bluff City Sunday for a 1 p.m. (CT) match.

Head coach Sean Burdette comments
"Today was a dog fight. Our serving really came through for us and was the difference throughout the match. In the fifth set, Hannah and Kelsea came up big at the net with crucial blocks at the end. Our first contact in serve-receive was very strong today and was key in our side-out game. Today was a great rebound from Friday's disappointing match."

Tigers Tidbits

The Tigers have a 4-2 record in five-set matches this season. Memphis has won its last four five-setters, including two in conference play.
Hannah Flowers posted her 18^thdouble-digit kills match of the season with her 16 kills Sunday. It was the 30^thdouble-figures kills match of her career.
Flowers led Memphis in kills for the 14^thtime this season.
Kelsea Bivins had 15 kills Sunday. It was the third time in the last five matches Bivins recorded double-digit kills.
Molly Murrihy had her eighth double-double of the season with 38 assists and 10 digs. It was her 13^thmatch of the season with 30 or more assists.
Anna Palmer logged her third-straight double-figures digs performance with 10 in Sunday's win. Palmer recorded a career-high 20 digs last Sunday versus SMU and followed with 11 digs at Temple Friday.
Kelsey Walter had five total blocks versus the Huskies Sunday. It was her 11^thmatch this season with five or more total blocks.
Flowers served four aces in Sunday's victory. It was her fifth match with four or more aces this season.

Statistic	Memphis Leaders	Connecticut Leaders
Kills	Hannah Flowers, 16 Kelsea Bivins, 15	Caylee Parker, 21
Assists	Molly Murrihy, 38	Emma Turner, 61
Digs	Kaitlyn Gehler, 15	Elizabeth Kline, 21
Blocks	Kelsey Walter, 5	Kennadi Jake-Turner, 7
Aces	Hannah Flowers, 4	2 players, 2

Set One

Memphis grabbed the early advantage, and after an Anna Palmer ace, the Tigers led 8-4.
Hannah Flowers added a kill and an ace in the match-opening run.
The Tigers maintained their lead and extended it late to six points at 20-14 on a Kelsea Bivins kill.
The Huskies answered with a 10-4 spurt to knot the set at 24-all.
Memphis halted the Connecticut run with the set's next two points for the 26-24 victory.
Sarah Marlatt accounted for the final two points with a kill and an assist block with Bivins.

Set Two

The first half of the second set was close throughout, with Memphis holding a narrow 11-10 lead at the midway point.
The Tigers held three three-point leads early at 9-6, 10-7 and 11-8.
Connecticut tied the set at 13-all, but Memphis pushed back in front at 19-17.
A Bivins ace and kills from Marlatt and Flowers helped the Tigers regain the lead.
The Huskies cut the lead to one at 19-18, but that was as close as they got the remainder of the set.
Memphis uses two Bivins kills and one Molly Murrihy kill to take the set 25-22.

Set Three

Connecticut grabbed the early 2-0 lead and did not trail in the set.
A Bivins kill knotted the set at 2-all, but the Huskies went on a 13-7 run to take control of the set at 15-9.
Memphis cut the Huskies' lead to three points on several occasions, but got no closer.
After the Tigers pulled to within three at 20-17, Connecticut closed the set on a 5-3 run for the 25-20 win.

Set Four

The set was close throughout, and all seven ties came in the set's first 32 points.
Connecticut then went on a 3-0 run to grab a 19-16 lead that it did not lose.
Memphis answered with a Bivins kill to cut the lead to 19-17.
The Huskies, though, finished the set strong with a 6-1 spurt for the 25-18 victory.

Set Five

Memphis rushed out to an early 3-0 lead on kills from Bivins and Flowers.
The Huskies responded with a 6-1 spurt to take 6-4 advantage.
Connecticut remained in front and extended its lead to three points at 12-9.
The Tigers answered with their first 3-1 spurt to pull to within one at 13-12.
Blocks from Bivins (solo), Kelsey Walter (assist) and Flowers (assist) keyed Memphis' mini-run.
Connecticut pushed out to a 14-12 lead and had match point on its serve, but Memphis answered again with a 3-0 run to take a 15-14 lead.
Kills from Flowers and Palmer tied the set at 14-all, and a Walter-Palmer block gave the Tigers match point.
The Huskies tied the set at 15-all, but Memphis had the final answer.
A Flowers kill pushed Memphis back into the lead at 16-15.
The Tigers ended the marathon match on a Marlatt-Palmer block for the 17-15 set win and 3-2 match victory.