University of Memphis Athletics
Friday, October 8
Memphis, Tenn.
6 P.M.
University of Memphis
vs
Wichita State
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Tigers Welcome Wichita State and Tulsa for Weekend at Home
Oct 07, 2021 | Women's Volleyball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After three of their first four conference matches have been away from home, the Memphis Tigers (8-8, 1-3) return to the Larry O. Finch Center for a pair of matches this weekend, Friday at 6 p.m. against Wichita State (7-6, 1-3) and Sunday at 1 p.m. against Tulsa (7-6, 2-2). Friday night's matchup will be available on ESPN+.
The weekend opens with the Shockers Friday night, a squad that Memphis took down twice on the road on consecutive days last season. Wichita State opened conference action with three straight losses, which included road losses at Tulane and Houston as well as a home loss to UCF, but the Shockers then picked up a win in straight sets Sunday at home against USF. Earlier this season, the Shockers were swept by Kansas and by #17 Creighton. Wichita State is third in the American Athletic Conference in opponents hitting percentage (.193) but second to last in blocks per set (1.84).
Memphis and the Shockers have met just eight times (4-4) dating back to 1988, with seven of those matches since 2017. Wichita State won four straight matches in the series before the Tigers snapped the streak with a win on the road in 2019. Memphis followed that up with two March wins at the home of the Shockers last season.
A Sunday tilt with Tulsa follows, as the Tigers try to beat the Golden Hurricane for the first time since 2017. Tulsa has alternated wins and losses through its first four conference matchups, with a win at Houston, loss at Tulane, win vs. USF, and most recently, a loss vs. UCF. The Golden Hurricane dropped their only Power Five matchup of the season, a 3-1 loss to Arkansas, and had early season matches against Nebraska and Kansas State canceled. Tulsa ranks ninth in the AAC in both hitting percentage (.181) and opponents hitting percentage (.219). The Golden Hurricane also rank in the bottom half of the conference in assists per set, kills per set, and service aces per set. Junior Kayley Cassaday is second in the conference in kills per set (3.85), but nearly a full kill per set behind UCF's McKenna Melville.
Tulsa has won five straight in the all-time series, which includes two wins in Memphis last season. The Golden Hurricane hold a 19-13 edge in the 32 meetings between the programs dating back to 1983 and have won 11 of the 20 matchups in Memphis. The Tigers' last win in the all-time series was a four-set victory on the road, Nov. 19, 2017. Memphis' last victory over Tulsa at home came Oct. 16, 2016.
NOTABLES
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Volleyball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The weekend opens with the Shockers Friday night, a squad that Memphis took down twice on the road on consecutive days last season. Wichita State opened conference action with three straight losses, which included road losses at Tulane and Houston as well as a home loss to UCF, but the Shockers then picked up a win in straight sets Sunday at home against USF. Earlier this season, the Shockers were swept by Kansas and by #17 Creighton. Wichita State is third in the American Athletic Conference in opponents hitting percentage (.193) but second to last in blocks per set (1.84).
Memphis and the Shockers have met just eight times (4-4) dating back to 1988, with seven of those matches since 2017. Wichita State won four straight matches in the series before the Tigers snapped the streak with a win on the road in 2019. Memphis followed that up with two March wins at the home of the Shockers last season.
A Sunday tilt with Tulsa follows, as the Tigers try to beat the Golden Hurricane for the first time since 2017. Tulsa has alternated wins and losses through its first four conference matchups, with a win at Houston, loss at Tulane, win vs. USF, and most recently, a loss vs. UCF. The Golden Hurricane dropped their only Power Five matchup of the season, a 3-1 loss to Arkansas, and had early season matches against Nebraska and Kansas State canceled. Tulsa ranks ninth in the AAC in both hitting percentage (.181) and opponents hitting percentage (.219). The Golden Hurricane also rank in the bottom half of the conference in assists per set, kills per set, and service aces per set. Junior Kayley Cassaday is second in the conference in kills per set (3.85), but nearly a full kill per set behind UCF's McKenna Melville.
Tulsa has won five straight in the all-time series, which includes two wins in Memphis last season. The Golden Hurricane hold a 19-13 edge in the 32 meetings between the programs dating back to 1983 and have won 11 of the 20 matchups in Memphis. The Tigers' last win in the all-time series was a four-set victory on the road, Nov. 19, 2017. Memphis' last victory over Tulsa at home came Oct. 16, 2016.
NOTABLES
- The Tigers are second in the AAC in opponents hitting percentage (.187)
- Memphis sits in the top half of the conference in assists per set (4th, 11.91), kills per set (4th, 12.84), blocks per set (5th, 2.07), and digs per set (2nd, 16.75)
- Miaya Smith ranks fourth in the conference with a .333 hitting percentage and 10th in the league with 2.93 kills per set
- Sabrina Bianco remains atop the league in assists per set (10.30)
- Bailey Houlihan is second in the American in digs per set (4.80)
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Volleyball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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