Sept. 30, 2007

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -

UAB 3, Memphis 0
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Memphis (12-7; 2-2 C-USA)     20  19  20
UAB (11-6; 2-2 C-USA)         30  30  30

Just 17 days after sweeping UAB in convincing fashion in Memphis, the Tiger volleyball team was handed a 3-0 loss by the Blazers, who held them to just 59 scoring serves on Sunday afternoon. Memphis drops its third straight match to fall to 12-7 overall and 2-2 in Conference USA play.

After taking a 2-0 lead on a block by Shelby Burton and Kelsey Labrum, and a kill by Ashley Liford, Memphis never challenged UAB in the first set. The Blazers quickly got things rolling with a 6-0 run, and a 4-0 push that gave them a 10-4 lead. From there on, the Tigers could put together scores on consecutive plays just three times while UAB extended its cushion to 22-11. The Blazers used a strong blocking performance in the opener to hold Memphis hit -.095 in the first game with 10 kills and 14 errors.

Game two was more of the same for the Tigers, who led just once--at 1-0--after a kill by Lauren Thompson. It was all downhill for Memphis after that score as UAB scored on eight of the next nine rallies to claim an 8-2 cushion. One of Liford's team-high 12 kills cut the deficit to 11-8, but that proved to be as close and the Tigers could come. UAB posted a trio of 3-0 surges, and a six-point push to put the game out of reach 28-15. Memphis could muster little offense in the second period, hitting just .022--a 117-point improvement from game one.

The Tigers made a vast progress in the final game, hitting .139 on 11 kills. A 5-0 run by the Blazers extended a one-point lead to 11-5. The deficit continued to build and Memphis by as many as nine, twice, with the last coming at 20-11. A kill by Rebekah Strickland, followed by a block by Emily Underwood and Katlin Inglish fueled a three-point rally that made it a 20-14 contest. The Tigers cut it to five on the strength of a kill and service ace by Underwood. Underwood's first career ace came on her first career serve. Ivana Bozic, who led all players with 18 kills, teamed up with setter Nevena Stefanov to slam kills on each of the next three serves to shut down the Tigers' momentum and give the Blazers a 27-19 lead late in the game.

Memphis offense struggled all afternoon, finishing the match with a .016 average. UAB's blocking corp of Bozic, Shaniquwa Cooper, Casey Dent and Stefanov made 11 blocks and held seven of Memphis' 10 offensive players to averages of .000 or lower. Of the 10 offensive players for the UofM, just three hit for a positive percentage. Liford led that group with a .150 clip. She was joined by Underwood, who had two kills on four swings, and Laura Côté's .111 average. Côté dished out 25 assists.

Christine Bach had 11 digs to lead Memphis' defense

The Tiger will attempt to get things back on a winning note on Tuesday, Oct. 2, when they wrap up the current three-match road trip against Central Arkansas in Conway, Ark. Tuesday's match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. first serve.