September 19, 2008
Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -
Memphis (8-4) 25 22 20 10
Samford (9-2) 20 25 25 25
Samford 3, Memphis 1 
The University of Memphis volleyball team's four-match win streak came to a halt this afternoon, as the Tigers were ousted by Samford, 3-1, in the opening match of the UAB/Samford Invitational.
The Tigers, who hit just .066 in the match, got a team-high 12 kills from Emily Underwood, while Laura Côté dished out 35 assists. No Memphis hitter hit better than .250.
Memphis benefitted from Samford errors on three straight serves to take an 11-8 lead midway through the opening set. The Bulldogs kept things close by scoring three of the next four points to make it 12-11. Assisted blocks from Underwood and Rebekah Strickland, combined with a kill by Underwood pushed the Memphis lead to 17-12. Samford refused to let the set get away and came back by scoring the next four points to make it a one-point contest. The Tigers were able to maintain the lead and claim a 25-20 win.
Samford evened the score at 1-1 by dominating play in the middle of the second frame. Memphis saw a 10-8 lead quickly turn into a 13-10 deficit and the Tigers were never able to recover. A Bulldogs ace made it 24-19 before Bach's serve powered a late push to get the Tigers back into the game. A termination by Katlin Inglish, followed by a blocking error by Samford and an ace from Bach cut the deficit to 24-22, but it was too late in a 25-22 loss. Memphis was held to .088 hitting in the second period.
The Tiger fell behind early in the third and Samford used a five-point run to take a commanding 18-11 advantage. Memphis converted on eight of the next 12 serves and trailed 22-19 late in the set, but that would be as close as the Tigers would come in a five-point loss. The offensive woes continued as the U of M hit just .160.
Memphis was never in the final. Samford rattled off the first six points of the set before. The Tigers scored twice, but any thoughts of a fifth set were erased with a six-point Bulldogs' run that made it 13-2. Memphis hit -.179 in the fourth and final frame.
Despite the loss, the Tiger defense was solid, limiting Samford to .184 hitting in the match. Memphis libero Christine Bach picked up a match-best 20 digs. Underwood and Lauren Thompson each had four blocks.
Samford's Ashley Adams led all players with 14 kills. She added 13 digs to complete a strong double-double performance. The Bulldog blockers combined for 17 block assists.
Memphis will wrap up the week's action on Saturday, when it takes on Florida International and Chattanooga in doubleheader action. The Tigers and Panthers will face off at Noon, followed by a 4:30 p.m. meeting versus the Mocs of Chattanooga.
