Tigers Drop Conference Opener to SMU

Wednesday, September 22

Dallas, Texas

1 P.M.

University of Memphis

7-6,0-1AAC

SMU

5-6,1-0AAC

Memphis

SMU

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Sep 22, 2021 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

DALLAS, Texas. – After opening the season with 12 non-conference matches across four weeks, the Memphis Tigers (7-6, 0-1) began conference play Wednesday with a 3-0 loss at SMU (5-6, 1-0). The Tigers fought off set point and tied both sets two and three 24-24, but the end result was a sweep for the Mustangs. The match featured 26 ties and 11 lead changes.

Memphis 0, SMU 3
21-25, 24-26, 24-26

Set 1

Memphis didn't lead until a 6-0 run put the Tigers in front 12-9
The Tigers never led by more than three, as a 6-1 run by the Mustangs gave SMU an 18-16 advantage
The Mustangs ended the set with a 7-2 run that turned a Memphis lead into an SMU set victory
Gigi Crescenzo had all of her match-high four blocks in the set

Set 2

SMU took an early 5-2 advantage, but the Tigers used a 5-0 run in the middle of the set to take a set-high five point lead at 18-13
The Mustangs answered with a 7-0 run to lead 20-18 and the Tigers never led again
Memphis tied the set 23-23 and 24-24, but SMU took the final two points to earn the set win
Tabytha Toelke had six of her team-high 14 kills in the set

Set 3

The set featured a match-high 10 ties and four lead changes
Neither side led by more than three through the first 25 points of the set (14-11 Memphis)
Trailing 15-12, SMU scored five straight to take a two point advantage 17-15
Memphis fought off match point at 24-23, but SMU got consecutive kills from Hannah Jacobs to end the match – Jacobs had a match-high 15 kills

NOTABLES

The Tigers improved their hitting percentage in each set (.114, .229, .361), but SMU hit .438 in the final set
Memphis had five blocks in the opening set but just one over the final two sets
Tabytha Toelke recorded double-digit kills for the fourth time this season

UP NEXT

Memphis opens home conference action vs. Temple at 1 p.m. Sunday
The Tigers will follow with matches at Cincinnati and East Carolina before a home match Friday, Oct. 6 vs. Wichita State

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.