Sept. 3, 2002

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis volleyball team (3-2) used a tough serving game to hand Christian Brothers University (3-2) its second loss of the season, 3-1, at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse in non-conference action, Tuesday. Memphis tallied 21 service aces in the game, while CBU managed four in the four-game loss.

Neither team came out with a very effective offense, with CBU hitting -.250, while Memphis hit .042. But the Buccaneer's trouble passing the ball kept them from capitalizing on a sputtering Tiger offense. Memphis won game one, 30-16.

The Tigers rebounded in game two, hitting .226, while CBU looked to senior Kim Ries to spark its offense. Ries downed six of her seven kills in the second game, keeping CBU within striking distance before falling 30-22.

The momentum shifted back and forth in game three, with the Tigers having game point at 30-29 before two of their 17 team serving errors cost them the momentum and allowed CBU to scrap its way to a 35-33 game three win.

But the momentum stalled when Memphis sophomore Tiara Gilkey (St. Louis, Mo./Pattonsville) returned to the line-up. Gilkey downed five kills in the fourth and deciding game, leading Memphis with 14 kills and six service aces and guiding the Tigers to a 30-14 game four win.

Freshman Lauren Berg led the defense with 11 digs, while fellow freshman Nan Kimbrell (Lafayette, La./Episcopal School of Acadiana) had 10 digs and nine kills. Nancy Nellans (South Bend, Ind./St. Joseph's) and Heather Watts (Salt Lake City, Utah/Skyline) each had five service aces in the win. Watts led the offense with 42 assists and was one of three Memphis players to post a solo block in the win.

"We got a great performance out of Tiara tonight," Tiger Head Coach Carrie Yerty said. "Lauren was steady, as always, on defense, but tonight proved that it will be critical to our win-loss record this weekend that our freshmen play key roles for us."

Yerty is also hoping for the return of middle hitter Shella Neba (Aurora, Colo./St. Mary's Academy). Neba led the Tiger offense last season with a .289 hitting percentage and hit over .300 in Conference USA play. She has been sidelined with a back injury through the early part of the season.

The Tigers remain at home this weekend, hosting the five-team Cal's Steakhouse Memphis Tournament, which begins Friday at 10 a.m. Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Memphis, Middle Tennessee and Birmingham-Southern will participate in the tournament. CBU also remains home to host a tournament of its own, hosting Missouri Western State, Lewis University and Missouri-St. Louis, Friday and Saturday.