Memphis Cruises Past Georgia State, Goes 3-0 at GSU Invitational

Saturday, August 28

ATLANTA, GA.

1 P.M.

University of Memphis

3-0,0-0AAC

Georgia State

1-2,0-0Sun Belt

Memphis

Georgia St.

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Memphis Cruises Past Georgia State, Goes 3-0 at GSU Invitational

Aug 28, 2021 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Atlanta, Ga. – After dominating California Baptist and Chattanooga to open the season Friday, the Memphis Tigers made it a perfect 3-0 record at the GSU Invitational with a three-set win over host Georgia State (1-2) Saturday. The Tigers (3-0) finished the tournament unblemished with three consecutive 3-0 victories.

Memphis got stronger as the match went on, as the Tigers improved their hitting percentage from .143 in the opening set to .250 in the second set to a match-high .370 in the final set. Meanwhile, Georgia State didn't hit better than .152 in any set, as Memphis saw opposition hit better than .200 in just one of the nine sets played over the weekend.

Memphis 3, Georgia State 0
25-23, 25-18, 25-17

Set 1

Both teams got off to slow starts, with four combined errors in the first 10 points
GSU extended the lead to 12-8 on a kill by Meisheia Griffin
After a Memphis timeout, the Tigers went on a 3-0 run to pull within one at 12-11
Georgia State built the lead back to four at 18-14 on an attack error by Gigi Crescenzo, but Memphis rattled off four straight points to tie the set 18-18
Down 23-21, the Tigers won the final four points of the set on a kill by Elizabeth Orf, a service ace by Tabytha Toelke, a kill by Crescenzo, and a solo block by Orf that gave the Tigers the 25-23 set win
Miaya Smith had three of her match-high four blocks in the opening set

Set 2

An early 3-0 run by the Tigers put Memphis in front 6-3, though GSU responded with a 6-0 run and forced the Tigers into a timeout
Memphis came out of the timeout with a 5-0 run to push the lead to 11-9 on a pair of kills by Smith
Trailing 16-15, the Tigers won five straight points to take command of the set, once again highlighted by a pair of kills from Smith
GSU pulled within three points at 21-18, but Memphis scored the final four points of the set on a kill by Smith, consecutive kills by Toelke, and a set-winning kill by Sabrina Bianco

Set 3

The Tigers took control of the final set early on with a 4-0 run that made it 9-3 Memphis
A kill by Toelke extended the Tigers' lead to 11-5
GSU pulled within one at 12-11 but the Tigers ran off three straight points and Georgia State never got within one again in the set
Memphis won four straight points to make it 22-16, gave up one point to GSU, but then won the final three points of the set
The set featured just one tie and no lead changes

Tigers Tidbits

Miaya Smith was the only Memphis player to record double-digit kills, but four Tigers tallied at least seven kills in the match
In the match, Memphis had the top three players in kills, leader in digs, leader in assists, and three of the top four in blocks
Elizabeth Orf, Smith, Gigi Crescenzo, and Tabytha Toelke each tallied at least 27 kills in the tournament
Sabrina Bianco, Orf, and Toelke were named to the GSU Invitational All-Tournament Team

Up Next

Memphis will head to the Central Arkansas Invite
The Tigers will play Missouri State and Little Rock Friday at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. respectively, with a 3 p.m. Saturday match against Central Arkansas

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.