Oct. 24, 2010

Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. -

UCF 3, Memphis 0

Memphis (13-9, 4-6 C-USA)    23   24   22
UCF (12-10, 5-5 C-USA)	     25   26   25

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Memphis volleyball squad came up just short in all three sets en route to falling to UCF 3-0 in a closely-contested C-USA battle, Sunday afternoon at The Venue at UCF. Memphis, 13-9 overall and 4-6 in C-USA play, splits C-USA weekend action for the second consecutive week with the loss. The Tigers defeated UTEP, 3-1 on Friday evening.

Vesna Jelic claimed a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs. The sophomore outside hitter hit .391 on the afternoon. Christine Bach produced match-high numbers for the Tigers. Bach picked up a match-best 26 digs for the Tigers, who held the Knights to .161 hitting for the match. Jovanovic downed 19 kills. Hajnalka Molnar dished out a match-best 35 assists.

Despite the match-high performances, the Tigers made critical mistakes at the service line and finished the afternoon with 11 service errors. That, combined with a .178 hitting percentage and 16 total blocks by the UCF defense proved to be too much to overcome.

Sunday's competition featured 35 ties and 21 lead changes. With a 2-0 deficit, Memphis got off to a strong start in the third and led by five points after an attacking error by the UCF offense. However, the lead was short-lived as the Knights came back with scored on seven of nine serves to even the slate at 13-13 midway through. From there, it was a back-and-forth battle with nine ties, the last coming at 22-22. Memphis had the advantage serve, but was not able to hold on to it as UCF made a block to take a 23-22 lead. UCF ended the contest, 25-22, with an ace and block.

The first two sets were played just as close as the last, with a combined 23 ties (11 in set one and 12 in set two) and 12 lead changes. After six ties to open the match, UCF came out on top with a four-point swing for an 8-4 lead. The Tigers chased the four-point deficit until a service error by UCF ignited a 4-0 rally by the Tigers to reach a 20-20 tie. Jovanovic connected for a pair of kills and Cassidy Hawkins added a block for Memphis. The two clubs fought through ties at 22-22 and 23-all before UCF picked up the win with a kill by Kristin Fisher and a service ace.

Ahead 12-11, Memphis got a kill by Jelic, an attacking error by UCF and a kill by Altrese Hawkins in succession to grab a 15-11 lead. But the Tigers struggled to hold off the Knights, who rallied to score five of the next six points to pull even at 18-18. UCF continued to push points and added three more winners to go up 21-18. The Tigers clawed back and pulled even at 21-all after reserve Holly Fong's ace, and Altrese Hawkins downed a kill to regain the lead 22-21. That would be it for the Tigers, however, as UCF again regrouped for a strong finish. A Tiger service error, followed by a block assist by the Knights' defense pulled the lead back to UCF, 24-22. Just like the first set, UCF got a kill by Fisher and a service ace to take a 2-0 advantage into the break.

The Tigers will now set its sights on a pair of home matches in league action next weekend. Memphis will host Southern Miss, Fri., Oct. 29 at 7 p.m., followed by a 1 p.m. showdown versus Tulane on Sun., Oct. 31.