Nov. 2, 2007
Box Score
DALLAS -
Memphis 3, SMU 1 
Memphis (21-9; 10-3) 30 25 30 30
SMU (15-12; 5-8) 23 30 22 27
Freshman libero Christine Bach made a program record 35 digs, while Ashley Liford (20 kills, 11 digs) and Sarah Bury (16 kills, 11 digs) each turned in double-double performances as Memphis claimed its fifth consecutive Conference USA win via a 3-1 decision over SMU on Friday evening. Bach's 35 digs eclipses the former mark of 33 set by Rosie Glenn on September 25, 1998.
The Tiger freshman libero, whose personal-best was a 25-dig outing versus Houston on October 21, 2007, made 13 digs in the opening set and had 20 digs after two frames. She led a defensive stand by the Tigers that included holding SMU to .117 hitting and making a season-high 85 digs. The Memphis frontline added 11.5 blocks. Middle blocker Shelby Burton and setter Laura Côté made six blocks each.
After taking a 2-1 lead, Memphis avoided a fifth set with a late rally that clinched the match. Down 23-20, Bury started a 5-0 push with her 16th kill of the night. Burton followed with a kill and Bury added an ace to knot the score at 23-all. Two kills by Liford put Memphis on top 25-23 and forced a Mustang timeout. SMU broke the rally on the next serve, but Memphis responded with a sideout score. At 28-26, SMU threatened to close the gap to one point, but reserve middle blocker Emily Underwood came up with a solo block and the Tigers went on to a 30-27 win.
The Tigers took game one, 30-23 after holding SMU to .104 hitting. A kill by Burton and an ace from Bach opened the contest and Memphis never looked back. Bury began and ended a five-point run with kills to put the Tigers ahead 8-2 early on. Bury ignited another 5-0 Tiger push with a kill as they surged ahead by as many as seven points, at 19-12. The Mustangs cut the Tiger lead to 25-21, but Bury struck again to end all hopes of a comeback.
SMU outhit Memphis .079-.040 in game two and its block negated the Tigers' sweep bid. The Mustangs blocked five UofM attacks to take a 10-7 lead. A 4-0 run by SMU put Memphis behind 15-10. Trailing 24-20, Memphis scored the next three points to cut the deficit to 24-23. A three-point run made it 28-24 late.
Behind the serve of Kelsey Labrum, Memphis jumped out to a 5-1 cushion in the third set. Burton and Côté opened the period with a block, Labrum followed with an ace and Burton capped a 3-0 surge with an unassisted kill. Burton downed 15 kills on the evening. Ahead 9-3 and threatening to run away with the game, Memphis saw SMU score the next six points to tie the game and force a Tiger timeout. Liford and the Tigers came out of the timeout with a 6-1 push to take a 15-10 advantage midway through. Memphis extended its lead to seven points on one of Labrum's 13 kills. Labrum then struck for each of the Tigers' next two scores to make it 25-18. The UofM went on to win 30-22.
Cote led Memphis' offense with 58 assists, while Bach served up three aces. On the defensive side of the net, Becky Shaffer chipped in with nine digs. Rebekah Strickland made four blocks to go with four kills.
SMU was led by Caitlin Rainbird's 13 kills. Mustang middles Kendra Kahanek and Natalie Peters combined for 22 kills. Madison Hill handed out 39 assists. Libero Candice Davis made a team-high 19 digs. Kathryn Wilkerson added 17 digs.
Memphis will now head to Tulsa, Okla., to battle Tulsa in a 1 p.m. matchup on Sunday, Nov. 4.
