Tigers Look to Remain Perfect with SEMO Invitational

Friday, September 10

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO.

7 P.M.

University of Memphis

Southeast Missouri State

Tigers Look to Remain Perfect with SEMO Invitational

Sep 09, 2021 | Women's Volleyball

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After consecutive perfect 3-0 weekends, the Memphis Tigers look to remain undefeated as they hit the road for their third straight road tournament. At 6-0, the Tigers are one of just three undefeated teams in the American Athletic Conference and the only AAC team that has yet to lose a set. The Tigers will face Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) Friday at 7 p.m. and follow with matches Saturday against Kansas City and Marshall at 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. respectively.

The Tigers enter the SEMO Invitational after they cruised through the Central Arkansas Invitational with wins over Missouri State, Little Rock, and Central Arkansas. The Tigers didn't face a single set point in the tournament and have faced just one set point over the first six matches of the season. Senior Sabrina Bianco earned Tournament MVP honors, while senior Miaya Smith and sophomore Bailey Houlihan were each named to the All-Tournament Team.

Of the three teams on the schedule for the SEMO Invitational, Southeast Missouri State is the only program that the Tigers have faced since 2012. Dating back to 1979, Memphis and SEMO have split 14 matches, though the Tigers have been on the wrong end of the final in five of the last six meetings. The teams met most recently in Memphis in 2019, a 3-1 win for SEMO. The Tigers and Kansas City have met just twice since 1979 and haven't matched up since 1998, as Memphis has picked up a victory in each meeting. Memphis and Marshall met twice annually from 2005 to 2012 as part of Conference USA. The Thundering Herd hold a slight 8-7 edge all-time, though Memphis has won five straight in the series, with the last matchup coming in 2012.

Tigers Tidbits

Memphis is one of two AAC teams to open the season with a 6-0 record and the only program in the conference to not drop a set
The Tigers lead the conference in hitting percentage (.279) and are second in opponents hitting percentage (.137)
Memphis also leads the AAC in assists per set (14.44), kills per set (15.17), and service aces per set (1.78)
Sabrina Bianco leads the nation in assists per set (12.78) while the Tigers also lead the nation in assists per set (14.44)
Miaya Smith's .432 hitting percentage paces the conference, 37^th in the NCAA, while Elizabeth Orf (.386) and Tabytha Toelke (.281) sit fourth and 14^th respectively
The Tigers have four of the top 15 in the conference in hitting percentage

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.