Oct. 22, 2006

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -

Memphis 3, Southern Miss 0
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Southern Miss (13-12; 5-5 C-USA)	13	24	27
Memphis (21-4; 7-3 C-USA)		30	30	30

Setter Laura Côté dished out 47 assists and Shelby Burton led all players with 13 kills as Memphis extended its home win streak to 13-straight matches with a sweep of Southern Miss Sunday afternoon in Conference USA play.

For the second consecutive contest, the Tigers dominated action, posting a 58-43 lead in kills and out-hitting the Golden Eagles .378-.230. Memphis also benefited from an aggressive serving day, finishing the match with nine service aces, behind a match-best four aces from Kori Smith. Ashley Liford served up three aces to go with 12 kills and a .500 hitting percentage.

Memphis also got a solid defensive effort en route to its fifth-straight win. Christen Clayton made a match-high 16 digs and Burton made four blocks. Memphis outblocked Southern Miss 8.0-3.0

The Tigers opened the match by scoring the first four points and went on to route the Golden Eagles 30-13 in the opening set. After leading 8-4 early, a kill by Colette Ramirez jumpstarted an 8-2 run that gave Memphis a 10-point lead midway through. Ramirez downed nine kills on the afternoon. The Tigers ended the game on an 11-3 run.

Memphis and Southern Miss battled through eight ties before the Golden Eagles used a four-point push to take a 14-10 lead. Memphis quickly responded with a 4-0 run of its own to tie the game for the ninth time. Memphis surged ahead 19-15 after a pair of kills by Burton and two more from Liford. Another four-point Tiger run gave Memphis a 25-20 lead. The U of M was never threatened again as it took a 2-0 lead in the match.

The Tigers led for much of the third and final game before USM erased a six-point deficit to tie the frame at 21-21. Southern Miss took a 25-22 lead, but an aggressive serve by Liford got Memphis back into the game. Behind a pair of aces from Liford, and a kill by Sarah Bury, took overcame the late shortfall with a 5-0 rally to take a 27-25 cushion. The Tigers were then able to hold on the sweep.

Memphis will now hit the road for three-straight road match, beginning with a non-conference matchup versus Ole Miss on Tuesday, October 24. Match time is slated for 7 p.m. in Oxford, Miss.