Memphis Picks Up Win in Five Set Thriller

Friday, September 8

Seattle, Wash.

6:30 p.m.

University of Memphis

3-6,0-0AAC

FIU

2-7,0-0CUSA

Memphis

FIU

Sep 08, 2023 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

SEATTLE, Wash. – The Tigers picked up a win on the road as they defeated FIU 3-2 in a five-set thriller. Memphis broke its six-game losing streak with a big performance from freshman Jordan Heatherly. Heatherly ended the match hitting on a .300 clip, with 13 kills, eight digs, seven assists and four service aces.

"We knew this was going to be a very tough tournament that would test us when we schedule to come to Seattle. We played three very good teams, two of which, were NCAA participants last season." Head coach Sean Burdette remarked. "We had great fight today and so many players stepped up at different times. It was great to end our trip on a win and to be able to get back home to prepare for Arizona State on Thursday."

The Tigers took set one before dropping sets two and three. They fought back through a long back and forth fourth set, forcing a fifth. The Tigers started slow in set five before going on a 12-4 run to close out the match with a win.

Memphis 3, FIU 2

Memphis took the lead starting in set one, scoring the first point with a kill from Reilly Briggs. Rylee Busse added an ace during an early 3-1 run from the Tigers.
Memphis held the lead midway through the first set, going into a timeout on a 4-0 run after a kill from Clara Bednarek.
The Tigers forced a timeout late in the first set after a momentum grabbing block from Madison Rice-Locket and Bednarek. Memphis would go on to take set one, 25-18.
FIU took a slight lead early in the second set, tallying two aces in the first eight points. The Panthers forced a Tiger timeout after back-to-back kills from Syra Tanchin.
FIU took a commanding lead through the middle of the set, going on a 10-2 run. The Panthers would go on to take set two, 25-15.
The Tigers and the Panthers started set three off exchanging points back and forth with Memphis holding the slight lead. The Tigers pulled away on a 6-1 run, forcing a Panther timeout.
Memphis went on a 3-0 run late in the third set, with an overpass kill from Autumn Flynn. FIU would answer with a 4-0 run of its own to tie up the set at 21-21. The Panthers would go on to take set three 25-23.
Memphis got off to a quick lead, aided by an ace from Tabytha Toelke and a kill from Flynn and Rice-Locket. The Tigers added a 4-0 as Abigail Schlueter notched two aces.
Heatherly added back-o-back-to-back aces halfway through the fourth set, forcing a Panther timeout.
FIU began climbing back, going on a 3-0 run late in the fourth set, forcing a Memphis timeout. The Panthers would win one of two challenges before the Tigers forced a set five, 25-22.
The Panthers opened set five with back-to-back aces taking an early lead. The Tigers keep if close, not allowing FIU to break away.
Memphis took the lead at the halfway mark of the fifth set, going on a 10-1 run forcing a FIU timeout, all the momentum with the Tigers.
Memphis closed out the set with a kill from Toelke to take the match 3-2.

Notables

Two Tigers notched double digit kills: Heatherly with 13 and Rice-Locket with 11.
Two Tigers recorded double doubles: Loren Robertson with 27 assists and 12 digs, and Schlueter with 10 assists and 12 digs.
Memphis recorded 12 aces in the match: Heatherly (4), Schlueter (3), Busse (2), Toelke (2), and Robertson (1)

Up Next: The Tigers come back home to host the Beale Street Challenge, Thursday, Sept. 14 through Saturday, Sept. 16. The Tigers will take on Arizona State, Southern Miss and Little Rock.

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.