Oct. 5, 2009

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis volleyball team will begin a four-match homestand on Tues., Oct. 6 when it hosts the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears at 7 p.m. at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

Memphis (2-16) looks to break a nine-match losing streak, while the red-hot Bears have won have won 15-straight and is 16-2.

The Tigers are paced by freshmen Altrese Hawkins and Maja Jovanovic. Since being cleared, Jovanovic has led the team with 4.45 kills per set. Hawkins, the season leader with 158 kills, has downed 10 or more kills 11 times this year, including in each of the last eight. She is quickly putting together one of the most prolific rookie campaigns in Memphis volleyball history and ranks 16th on Memphis' all-time freshman kills list. Of the 20 players on the Tigers' 1,000 list, 14 are listed on the list for most kills by a freshman. Junior setter Christine Bach leads the offense with 429 assists.

Carolyn Baker leads the Tigers defensive efforts at the net with 51 total blocks. Becky Shaffer anchors the backrow with 4.42 digs per set.

Scouting the Sugar Bears
UCA returns 10 letterwinners and four starters from last year's club that went 24-7. They have improved on that with a school-record win streak that includes 12 sweeps. Chloe Smith hits .295 with a team-high 4.82 kills per set. The Sugar Bears average over 14 kills per period. Setter Robyn Smith has dished out 11.51 assists per game.

The UCA defense holds opponents to a .164 attack percentage, behind Cristin Curl's team-best 284 digs (4.66 dps). Taylor Hammonds leads the way on the frontline with 13 solo blocks and 37 block assists.

All-Time Series vs. UCA
Memphis has defeated UCA in each of the previous five matches between the two programs. The Tigers came away with a tough 3-1 win over the Sugar Bears at the 2008 Bulldog Club Invitational at Mississippi State last year.

Up Next
The Tigers will dive back into league play with matches versus East Carolina and Marshall on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Both matches are set for a 7 p.m. first serve at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.