Volleyball Wins Thriller Over ECU Sunday

Sunday, October 28

Memphis, Tenn.

1 pm

University of Memphis

11-12, 4-7

ECU* (Halloween Party/Pouncer Pals)

12-10, 4-7

ECU

Memphis

Photo by: Brandon Dill

Oct 28, 2018 | Women's Volleyball

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

Bivins, Gehler, Murrihy and Palmer all with career-highs.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis' Kelsea Bivins, Kaitlyn Gehler, Molly Murrihy and Anna Palmer all set career-highs in the Tigers' thrilling 3-2 come-from-behind win over ECU in American Athletic Conference action at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse Sunday.

Memphis dropped the first two sets, but came back to take the last three to win the match by scores of 24-26, 13-25, 25-16, 25-14 and 21-19. Memphis improves to 11-12 overall and 4-7 in the league. The Tigers have won four of their last six matches. The Pirates fall to 12-10 overall and 4-7 in the conference.

Bivins shattered her previous career-high for kills with 33 Sunday. Her previous high was 21 kills versus UT Martin earlier this season. Bivins' 33 kills are the most by a Tiger since the 1995 season when Monique Swaby downed 35 kills versus Cincinnati on Oct. 27, 1995. Bivins' 33 kills are the fourth-most in a match in Tigers history.

Gehler's 33 digs also shattered her previous-best of 27 versus UT Martin earlier this year. Her 33 digs are tied for the eighth-most in a match in program history and are the most since Aleksandra Petronijevic had 36 versus SMU in the 2014 campaign (Nov. 5).

Murrihy's 59 assists were the most since the 2014 campaign. That season, Veronica Zimmerman had 60 assists versus Arkansas State on Sept. 6, 2014.

Palmer, who recorded the match-winning kill, posted her collegiate career-best in kills Sunday. The transfer from Seattle University previously career-high was 15 kills as a Redhawk last season. Palmer's previous-best as a Tiger was 13 kills in a win over SMU two weeks ago (Oct. 14).

Up Next
Memphis returns to the road next weekend for a Texas trip to Houston and SMU. The Tigers face the Mustangs Friday at 7 p.m. (CT) and then move on to Houston for a 1 p.m. (CT) match against the Cougars Sunday.

Head coach Sean Burdette comments
"(I saw) fight today, just plain and simple, fight. We had a 'never-give-up' attitude. I'm so proud of this team, and it wasn't just the players on the floor. It was everybody out there. The bench got behind the whole team, and that was one of the biggest keys to our win today."

(On Kelsea Bivins' performance)
"We talk about on any given day that somebody has to step up. Hannah (Flowers) was a little off in the beginning of the match, and our outsides picked it up. It's what ECU gave us a little bit, and we chose to go with that. I thought our ball control was so key, and we made some big defensive efforts down the stretch."

Tigers Tidbits

The Tigers have a 5-2 record in five-set matches this season. Memphis has won its last five five-setters, including three in conference play.

Memphis and ECU have played five five-set matches in their last nine encounters. The Tigers hold a narrow 3-2 edge in those matches.
Sunday was Molly Murrihy's 15^thmatch of the season with 30 or more assists, including seven with 40 or more assists.
Kelsey Walter had five total blocks versus the Pirates for her 13^thmatch this season with five or more total blocks.
Hannah Flowers posted her 20^thdouble-digit kills match of the season with her 12 kills Sunday. It was the 32^nddouble-figures kills match of her career.
Flowers posted the Tigers' lone double-double in the match with 12 kills and 11 digs. It was her sixth career double-double. The Tigers have a 5-1 record when Flowers records a double-double.
Kelsea Bivins had 33 kills Sunday. It was the fifth time in the last seven matches Bivins recorded double-digit kills.
Kate Hoerdemann tied a season-high with eight digs Sunday.

Statistic	Memphis Leaders	ECU Leaders
Kills	Kelsea Bivins, 33	Bri Wood, 13
Assists	Molly Murrihy, 59	Shelby Martin ,34
Digs	Kaitlyn Gehler, 33	Maggie Hallow, 19
Blocks	Kelsey Walter, 5	Sydney Hall, 9
Aces	Molly Murrihy, 3	Brianna Hudson, 3

Set One

The opening set was close throughout with 14 ties and nine lead changes. The largest lead was three points held once by each team.
After the set was tied at 9-all, Memphis climbed out to its three-point lead of the set at 12-9.
A Kelsea Bivins kill and two ECU attack errors aided the Tigers' run.
The Pirates answered right back with a 6-1 run to take a 15-13 lead.
ECU maintained its advantage and extended it to three points at 20-17.
Memphis responded with three-straight point to tie the set at 20-all.
Bivins had two kills to ignite the spurt.
After an exchange of points, Memphis grabbed a 24-23 lead on a Hannah Flowers kill.
The Tigers, though, were unable to score the game-clinching point, as the Pirates tallied the set's final three points for the 26-24 victory.

Set Two

Memphis held a 1-0 lead, but it was the Tigers' lone advantage in the set.
ECU used a 16-6 run to take a 16-7 lead. The Pirates did not trail the remainder of the set.
The Tigers cut the ECU to 16-10 with a 3-0 spurt powered by kills from Bivins and Flowers.
Memphis did not draw any closer and dropped the set 25-13.

Set Three

The third set was a reversal of the second game.
ECU grabbed an early 4-2 lead only to see Memphis storm back to take a 13-10 advantage.
Flowers and Bivins each knocked down three kills in the spurt.
The Tigers continued their surge and pushed out to a 20-13 advantage.
An Anna Palmer kill and Kaitlyn Gehler ace keyed the run.
The Tigers closed the set on a 5-3 spurt for the 25-16 win.

Set Four

Memphis carried its momentum over into the fourth set, grabbing a quick 7-1 lead and never looking back.
Two Bivins kills and two Molly Murrihy aces ignited the Tigers' early run.
The Tigers continued to build on their lead and stretched it to 22-9.
Flowers, Sarah Marlatt and Murrihy each had an ace in the spurt.
Memphis won the set 25-14.

Set Five

Despite dropping the two previous sets, the Pirates came out with the momentum to start the deciding set.
ECU moved out to a 6-1 lead and maintained some breathing room at 10-6.
That's when the Tigers began their comeback.
Three-straight Bivins kills cut the ECU lead to 10-9.
Memphis tied the set at 11-all on a Murrihy ace.
The teams exchanged points, and after a Palmer kill, Memphis had match point at 14-13.
ECU won the next point to tie the set at 14-all.
The set went into extras, and the teams traded points and leads.
The Pirates held their lone match point at 18-17, but a Bivins kill knotted the score at 18-all.
An exchange of points made the score 19-all, and another Bivins kill – her 33^rdof the match – gave Memphis match point at 20-19.
Palmer then ended the marathon with a kill for the 21-19 set win and 3-2 match victory.