Tigers Open Conference Play with SMU and Temple

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – With a full conference slate for the first time since 2019, the Memphis Tigers (7-5) open American Athletic Conference competition this week with a 1 p.m. Wednesday matchup at SMU (4-6) and a 1 p.m. Sunday contest at home vs. Temple (4-7). Wednesday's battle with the Mustangs will be available on ESPN+.

Memphis hits the road to open conference action in Dallas, Texas against an SMU squad that has struggled to begin the season. Of the Mustangs' six losses, two have been to top-20 ranked programs (Oregon & Creighton), with three other losses to Power 5 programs. The Mustangs enter conference play off a five-set victory at TCU.

SMU holds an 18-6 edge in the all-time series, with all matches occurring since 2005. The Mustangs have won 10 of the last 11 meetings and 14 of the last 16. SMU has won each of the past three matchups, with two victories in a span of three weeks in 2019. The programs did not square off during the shortened 2020 season.

Home conference action opens with the Owls, who have dropped seven of 11 to start the season. Temple has lost to three Power 5 opponents and went just 1-2 as the hosts of the City Classic, with a win over Penn and losses to Villanova and Princeton.

The Owls hold a 10-3 advantage in the all-time series, with all matches coming over the past eight years. The Tigers won the lone match between the schools in 2019, a 3-0 sweep in Memphis. This will be the third straight meeting between the two programs to take place in Memphis, while the Tigers will head to Philadelphia in November.

NOTABLES

The Tigers enter conference play first in the AAC in opponents hitting percentage (.176) and second in assists per set (12.31)
Memphis is also third in the AAC in both kills per set (13.07) and digs per set (16.62)
Miaya Smith leads the way offensively for Memphis, T-7^th in the conference with a .333 hitting percentage and 10^th in the AAC with 2.86 kills per set
Sabrina Bianco leads the conference in assists per set (10.64)
Bailey Houlihan is third in the AAC with 4.67 digs per set

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.

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Players Mentioned

Sabrina Bianco

Bailey Houlihan

Miaya Smith

University of Memphis Athletics