Tigers drop AAC opener to Tulane

Friday, February 12

New Orleans, LA.

6:00 PM

University of Memphis

3-2,0-1AAC

Tulane

3-5,1-0AAC

Memphis

Tulane

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Feb 12, 2021 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

New Orleans, LA. – In their first conference match of the season, the Memphis Tigers held an early edge with a first set win but saw the Tulane Green Wave win the next three sets, as Memphis lost 3-1 on the road, 26-24, 20-25, 16-25, & 23-25.

Behind an early balanced attack, the Tigers (3-2, 0-1) picked up the first set. Multiple first set kills from Miaya Smith, Jada Birkel, and Elizabeth Orf gave Memphis a 12-9 lead before the Green Wave rallied back to level the set 15-15. The teams traded points to 20-20 but three straight points from Tulane put the Green Wave within two points of the set win. A block from Orf, one of a team-high four for the graduate student, leveled the set 23-23. Memphis fought off a set point at 23-24 and won three straight points for the first set win, 26-24. Orf and Smith each had five kills in the set for Memphis

The Tigers took the energy from the end of the first set and translated it into early success in the second set, as they won five of the first six points. Tulane (3-5, 1-0) rallied back to tie the set 8-8 and then 16-16 and 19-19. Ahead 21-20, Tulane scored the final four points of the set to level the match 1-1.

The third set was all Tulane, which easily earned the largest margin of victory in a set in the match. The Green Wave started with an early 4-0 advantage on three blocks and a Memphis attack error. Tulane led 9-4 and 18-8 before an eventual 25-17 set victory. The Tigers had just five kills to seven errors in the set. Memphis recorded a hit percentage of -.069, the team's worst in a set so far this season.

In a must-win fourth set, the Tigers started off scorching hot and at one point led by eight points. Memphis earned five of the first six points of the set and 10 of the first 15. A successful challenge from the Tigers gave them an 18-12 advantage, while Orf's 13^th kill of the night gave the Tigers a 21-14 lead. A kill from Sam Drewry made it 22-15 Tigers, but Memphis managed just one of the next 10 points, as Tulane closed out the set and the match on a 9-1 run for a 25-23 fourth set win.

The Green Wave, who snapped a five-match losing streak, got a match-high 14 kills from Lexie Douglas and a match-high nine blocks from Kayla Dinkins. Both Tulane players were named to the preseason All-Conference Team.

Tigers Tidbits

The Tigers fell to Tulane for the fifth time in the past seven matches
It was the third consecutive loss for Memphis in the series on the road
Friday night's loss was also the second straight season that the Tigers have lost AAC opener on the road against the Green Wave
Memphis recorded a hit percentage of just .046, the team's lowest of the season by .157
Elizabeth Orf led the Tigers in kills (13) for the first time this season, while no other Tigers player recorded double-digit kills
Orf recorded at least four blocks for the third consecutive match and has led the Tigers in blocks in four straight matches
With 21 digs, Bailey Houlihan led the Tigers defensively for the fifth consecutive match
Three Tigers recorded a negative hit percentage for the first time this season

Up Next
Memphis remains at the home of the Green Wave for a Saturday matchup at 1 p.m. on ESPN+. Following the quick turnaround that wraps up the weekend on the road, the Tigers will return to Memphis and open up home conference action against Tulsa with matches Feb. 18 and Feb. 19 at the Larry O. Finch Center.