University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
6-4
South Alabama
5-5
Tigers Claim Maroon Classic Crown
Sep 13, 2014 | Women's Volleyball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Memphis volleyball team won two-matches in straight-sets to bring the Maroon Classic crown back to Memphis. Freshman Kate Gibson was named the tournament's Most-Outstanding Player while junior Alexis Wesley and senior Aleksandra Petronijevic were named to the All-Tournament team. Memphis improves to 6-4 on the season and will conclude its preseason slate as it travels to the Lady Vol Classic in Knoxville next weekend.
The Tigers exorcised Northwestern State in three-sets, 25-14, 25-14, 25-14, for the first win on the afternoon before pouncing on the Jaguars, 25-16, 25-16, 25-17, to clinch the tournament title.
"I thought we showed the type of team we can be this weekend," head coach April Jauregui said following the matches. "We know it is a continual process to build a high-caliber team. Our team responded well to adversity and showed a lot of poise."
The Tigers made quick work of the Demons in the first match as the Blue and Gray trailed once the entire match, 3-2 in the second set. Northwestern State was plagued by 24 errors while Memphis hit .241 and had only 10 miscues. Kate Gibson recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs. The freshman led the team in kills for the match.
In the tournament's championship match against South Alabama, both sides appeared evenly matched in the opening set. Leading 13-10, Memphis mounted a 5-0 run to expand its lead to 18-10 which was aided with three errors by the Jaguars. The Blue and Gray hit .244 and limited to the Jaguars to a .082 percentage while forcing nine errors in the opening game.
The second set against the Jaguars featured much of the same for the Tigers. Memphis built an early lead in the game before sprinting to the finish to cap off a 25-16 finish. Memphis hit .317 in the second, committing only three errors in 41 attempts. South Alabama saw its hitting percentage climb to .111, but another five errors did in the Jaguars.
The Blue and Gray wasted no time in securing the match as the Tigers completed the sweep, 25-17. Helped by a .303 swing percentage in the final set, Memphis finished with three players hitting above .300 in Gibson, Lilly and Agomuo. The trio of underclassmen combined for 36-of-42 kills for the Tigers.
Memphis will be in action again on Friday when it travels to Knoxville for the Lady Vol Classic. To learn more about the team, visit GoTigersGo.com and follow @MemphisVolley on Twitter and Instagram.
