Sept. 27, 2005

Box Score

JONESBORO, Ark.-- -
Memphis-Arkansas State boxscore in PDF Format
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Memphis (8-7)         26  22  23
Arkansas State (6-8)  30  30  30

Memphis dropped its fifth consecutive match in a 3-0 loss to Arkansas State Tuesday evening at the ASU Convocation Center. Senior outside hitter Nance Nellans led the Tigers with her eighth double-double of the year--15 kills and 13 digs. With her eighth kill, Nancy Nellans surpassed Ginger Garrett and moved into fourth-place on Memphis' all-time kills list.

Both teams battled through seven ties before the Tigers found themselves trailing 16-10 after a 6-0 A-State push. Memphis clawed back into the contest with a five-point run rally of its own to pull within one at 16-15. The Tigers continued to fight and tied the game for the eighth time, 19-19, on a kill by Ashley Liford. ASU then made a 3-0 push to take the lead for good at 22-19. Nellans downed her fifth kill of the game to close the U of M deficit to 26-27, but that would be as close as the Tigers would get in a 30-26 loss. The Tiger defense held the Indians to just .148 hitting in the opening game.

Game two saw Memphis fall behind 3-0 before scoring the next four points to claim an early 4-3 lead. ASU regained the lead at 12-10, but Memphis battled even on a kill by Shelby Burton and a solo block by Melissa Nance on consecutive plays. The Tribe took command of the game with a 7-1 rally that put Memphis behind 24-17. ASU finished the game off with a 5-1 run to take a 2-0 lead into the break. Memphis was held to a .000 attack percentage on 10 kills in the second game.

A five-point surge by the Indians gave them a 7-2 advantage early in game three. Arkansas State increased the lead to 15-8 and the Tigers were never able to recover. Memphis used a 5-1 push to close the gap to 22-19, but ASU responded with four straight scores to push the Tiger deficit back to seven at 26-19. The Indians hit .303 in the final game.

Kristin Kirby and Phillipa Soulsby led Arkansas State, who has now 19 straight at home, with 11 kills each. Randilyne Volkmer posted a career-high 27 digs on the defensive end for the Indians.

Nance was the only other Tiger to record double-figures in kills, with 11. Junior libero Christen Clayton made 14 digs, while Laura Côtè posted 10 digs to go with 36 assists.