Nov. 4, 2011

Memphis vs. UCF 2 PDF Box

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Behind career-best performances by Lauren Hawkins and Katie Meyer, the Memphis volleyball team (16-12, 5-10 C-USA) knocked off UCF (16-10, 8-7 C-USA) in four sets (20-25, 15-25, 28-26, 25-23), ending a six-game skid for the Tigers.

L. Hawkins finished the night with a career-high 14 kills, in addition to Meyer's seven blocks, also a career high. Altrese Hawkins wrapped up the night with a double-double, recording 18 kills and 11 digs. Hajnalka Molnar was the other double-double with 50 assists and 10 digs.

The first block by Meyer and Marija Jovanovic put the Tigers on the board first and set the tone for set one. With the game even at 3-3, the Tigers went on a 3-0 run to take a 7-4 advantage before the Knights tied things back up at 10 all following a service error by Molnar. However, Meyer would pair up with Jovanovic and Vesna Jelic for two more key blocks before UCF called a timeout down 13-10. A service error by UCF's Tory McCutcheon, followed by a block by L. Hawkins propelled the Blue and Gray to a 17-12 edge. A rally by UCF brought the Knights within one, but after a break called by the U of M, the Tigers struck with two quick kills by L. Hawkins and A. Hawkins. A 6-1 run by the Tigers closed out the first-set victory for Memphis.

In the second set, UCF jumped out to a 6-2 lead, moving the Tigers to call an early timeout. Memphis still struggled to regroup at first, as their conference foe scored the next three points, but the Tigers rallied to narrow the gap, 11-8, and the Knights would call a timeout. Memphis would fail to climb out of the hole as four errors by the U of M and an offensive attack led by UCF's Crump, who finished the set with four kills, sealed it, 25-15, for the visitors.

Two service aces by Molnar and two kills by A. Hawkins opened up play in the third and Memphis found itself with a 4-0 lead. A third ace was tallied by Petronijevic to keep the U of M at an 8-4 edge. Later, with the score at 12-6, UCF would put together a 9-0 run before Petronijevic recorded her first kill of the season to stop the Knights' charge.

The Tigers would claw back from a 15-12 deficit to even things up in the critical set at 23. Crump's kill put the Knights up by one, but A. Hawkins countered wth her sixth kill of the match to tie things again at 24. Play continued and with the teams squared up at 26, an error by Delaina Sarden gave the Tigers the edge and L. Hawkins put away the set for the Blue and Gray with her sixth kill of the set.

Rachel Vukson got the ball rolling in the fourth set with a service ace for UCF. Meyer partnered with Jovanovic for her fifth block of the night to bring the set to 3-3. Lead changes were the story of the set until the Tigers found themselves down 23-20. A 5-0 Memphis spurt, which included Molnar's third service ace, would clinch the victory for the Tigers, 25-23.

The Tigers return to the Elma Roane Fieldhouse to take on Tulane at 7 p.m. on Nov. 11.