Sept. 2, 2006

Box Score

TROY, Ala. -

Memphis 3, Troy 0
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Memphis (6-0)	30	30	30
Troy (2-4)		18	27	11

Junior middle hitter Shelby Burton downed a match-high 17 kills and Ashley Liford posted a double-double of 12 kills and 10 digs to lead Memphis to a sweep of Troy in the title match of the Trojan Labor Day Classic. Libero Christen Clayton was named the tournament MVP, while Burton and sophomore setter Laura Côté were placed on the all-tournament team. Memphis improves to 6-0.

The Tiger offense got going early, taking a 6-2 lead on the strength of three kills by Burton and assisted blocks by Burton and Sarah Bury. Burton hit .556 in the match. Troy battled back to take an 11-8 lead, but the Tigers quickly erased the deficit with a 13-3 push that gave them a 22-14 lead. Memphis never relinquished the advantage in a 30-18 win. While the Tiger offense hit .390 on 20 kills, its defense was evenly as impressive, making five blocks and holding Troy to a .108 attack percentage in the opening set.

Troy led 20-16 late in the second game, before Liford down a pair of kills and Burton added another to tie the set at 21. Burton and Bury posted block assists to give Memphis a 23-22 lead--its first lead since a 4-2 advantage early in the frame. The Tigers were then able to hold off the Trojans to complete the comeback in a 30-27 triumph. Liford downed seven of her 12 kills in the second set to lead Memphis to a .385 attacking clip.

A blistering .524 team hitting clip powered Memphis to a dominant 30-11 win in the final frame. Troy never threatened after the Tigers raced to a 9-3 lead on the strength of a 7-0 rally. The Tigers extended the lead to 11 points, at 19-8 after Burton and Laura Côté teamed up on assisted blocks and Liford followed with a kill. Memphis got five service aces from Burton to reel off a 10-1 rally to wrap up the contest. Burton finished with five aces.

Memphis hit .416 for the match on a 51-30 advantage in kills. Côté dished out a match-best 39 assists for the Tigers, who are off to the best start since the 2001 season.

Defensively, Clayton led all performers with 17 digs. Memphis outblocked Troy 9-0, behind eight total blocks by Burton and five from Côté.

The Tigers will return to action next weekend, Sept. 8-9 when they host the Tiger Invitational. Memphis will take on Lipscomb and Southeast Missouri in a doubleheader on Friday.