Sept. 9, 2011

Box Score

Memphis vs. Green Bay PDF Box

Carbondale, Ill. - The University of Memphis volleyball team opened the 2011 Saluki Invitational with a 3-0 victory (25-22; 27-25; 25-22) over Wisconsin-Green Bay at SIU Arena. Altrese Hawkins registered 12 kills while Katie Meyer tied a career-high with 10 to lead the Tigers, who improve to 6-2 on the season.

Green Bay took the first two points of the first set before Memphis responded with eight-straight points to take a commanding 8-2 advantage. The Tigers extended that lead to 16-10 behind strong play from Vesna Jelic and Altrese Hawkins, but Green Bay responded with a run of its own and took the lead 21-20. Memphis came back with kills from Maja Kostic, Marija Jovanovic and Jelic to regain the lead 23-21. The Phoenix sided out to make it 23-22, but the Tigers responded with two-straight kills to clinch the set, 25-22.

Set two proved to be a battle for both teams as it needed extra points to determine a winner. Green Bay took a 6-2 lead in the opening minutes behind four consecutive attack errors by Memphis. The Tigers closed the gap to 12-11 before Green Bay responded and extended its advantage to 18-14 and then to 20-16.

Trailing 22-21, Jelic came up with a huge effort play as she sprinted several feet out of taped area to keep the ball in play, and Molnar sent the ball over the net for a kill to tie the game at 22. Memphis then staved off a set point at 25-24 and scored three-straight points to take the set 27-25.

The Tigers appeared in command of the third set, going up by three or more points five different times, including leading 20-16. Green Bay refused to quit, however, and the Phoenix scored five-straight points to take a 21-20 advantage. A service error from the Phoenix tied the game at 21 before a powerful kill from the outside by A. Hawkins put Memphis back in front for good, 22-21.

Cassidy Hawkins, who was a solid performer in relief, then registered a kill down the middle for a 23-21 lead. Altrese Hawkins teamed with Cassidy Hawkins on the next point for a block assist, giving Memphis a match point, 24-21. A. Hawkins then finished off the match with another strong kill from the outside as Memphis took the set 25-22, and the match, 3-0.

Jelic and Jovanovic each finished with seven kills to help the Tigers, while Jelic also recorded 12 digs. Maja Kostic and Aleksandra Petronijevic led the defense for Memphis as each came up with 15 digs. Hajnalka Molnar played a solid game at the setter position, recording 40 assists to go along with one kill and four digs. Cassidy Hawkins also recorded four kills in relief at the middle blocker position. Overall, Memphis hit .236 for the game.

Abbey Gitter led Green Bay, which falls to 2-6 on the season, with 11 total kills. Lyndsay Zabkowicz recorded seven kills and seven digs, while Leah Poel turned in six kills and 30 assists. Brittany Groth led the Phoenix defense with 15 digs.

The 2011 Saluki Invitational continues tomorrow with four more games. The Tigers will take on Murray State at 10:30 a.m. and then return to the SIU Arena for a bout with tournament host, Southern Illinois at 7 p.m.