Memphis Picks Up Set in 3-1 Loss to Rice

Friday, October 6

Memphis, Tenn.

6:00 p.m.

University of Memphis

5-13,1-5AAC

Rice

12-4,6-0AAC

Rice

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Oct 06, 2023 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis picked up a set in 3-1 loss to Rice on Friday night at the Finch Center. The Tigers (5-13, 1-5) forced the Owls to drop a set for the first time since Sept. 23^rd in their 3-2 win over Tulsa. Rice out hit Memphis with a .257 clip and recorded 11 blocks to the Tigers' four.

Rice 3, Memphis 1

Rice got off to a hot start going on a 8-2 run to begin the first set, forcing a Memphis timeout. The Owls were aided by errors from the Tigers and tallying three blocks.
The Owls added to their lead with kills from Sahara Maruska and Satasha Kostelecky, pushing the Tigers to use their second timeout halfway through the set.
Memphis put together its own 7-2 run, as Clara Bednarek and Jordan Heatherly proved their presence at the net adding kills and blocks, forcing aa Rice timeout. The Owls would hold off the Tigers, taking set one 25-18.
Memphis and Rice would go back and forth through the beginning of set two, with the Tigers holding a one-point lead over the Owls going into the media timeout, Tabytha Toelke and Bednarek aided the Tigers with multiple kills.
Memphis would go on a 6-3 run, forcing a Rice timeout as the Tigers led at 21-17. An ace from Bednarek and kills from Heatherly and Toelke would seal set two for the Tigers at 25-20.
Rice dominated set three, finding weaknesses within the Memphis defense, taking the set 25-9.
The Owls would take a 10-4 lead early in set four, forcing the Tigers to take a timeout and slow the Rice momentum. Memphis would come out of the timeout with a kill from Autumn Flynn and an ace from Heatherly.
Maruska would prove to be a big presence for the Owls, tallying four kills and a block assist in their 7-3 run forcing another Memphis timeout midway through set four. Rice would go on to take set four 25-14.

Notables

Two Tigers hit double digits: Toelke and Bednarek with 10 a piece. Heatherly followed closely behind with nine kills on the night.
Heatherly recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs, while Rylee Busse tallied 11 digs.

Up Next: The Tigers will host Tulane Sunday, Oct. 8, at 1 p.m. at the Larry O. Finch Center.

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.