Tigers Open 2021 Season at Georgia State University Invitational

Friday, August 27

ATLANTA, GA.

11 A.M.

University of Memphis

California Baptist

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Tigers Open 2021 Season at Georgia State University Invitational

Aug 25, 2021 | Women's Volleyball

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Tigers begin their 2021 campaign at the Georgia State University Invitational Friday and Saturday. The Tigers will face California Baptist and Chattanooga Friday at noon and 4:30 p.m. respectively, and wrap up the weekend against Georgia State (GSU) at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Sean Burdette's squad looks to build off of last year's shortened schedule that saw the Tigers play just 12 matches. A 5-7 record included a 2-6 American Athletic Conference record but had the team alive for the AAC Championship heading into the final weekend. Memphis used a road sweep at Wichita State to stay in the hunt before the Tigers fell in a five-set thriller at Houston. The final two matches of the season vs. SMU were canceled.

Memphis brings back nearly everyone from last year's squad. On the attack, The Tigers return their top three in kills in Sam Drewry, Miaya Smith, and Gigi Crescenzo, plus six of the team's top seven in kills. Senior setter Sabrina Bianco, who finished one assist shy of 500 last season, returns for her third season with the Tigers. Defensively, Bailey Houlihan returns after she led the team in digs, while last season's top four Tigers in blocks (Smith, Elizabeth Orf, Crescenzo, Bianco) are all back at it for Memphis.

The Tigers program has limited history against the trio of opponents that they'll face at the GSU Invitational. Memphis hasn't played California Baptist (CBU) dating back to at least 1979, while the Tigers are 5-0 against Chattanooga and 1-1 against Georgia State. It will be Memphis' first match vs. Chattanooga since 2008 and just the second time the programs will face off since 1993. The Tigers faced GSU more recently, with a home win in 2011, but that was the first time the programs had met since 2002, a road loss for Memphis.

Tigers Tidbits

Memphis led the American in digs per set last season (19.37), good for ninth in the country
Sabrina Bianco finished last season 20^th in the nation and first in the American in assists per set (10.85)
Sam Drewry finished 14^th in the conference in kills per set (2.78) while Bailey Houlihan ended the season fourth in digs per set (4.93)

Live stats for the GSU Invitational will be available at MemphisStats.com.

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.