Memphis Volleyball Hosts Tiger Invitational This Weekend

Friday, September 2

Memphis, Tenn.

12 pm

University of Memphis

Jackson State

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Memphis Volleyball Hosts Tiger Invitational This Weekend

Sep 01, 2016 | Women's Volleyball

Tigers play two matches at 12 p.m., 7 p.m. (CT) Friday.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis volleyball squad began its 2016 campaign with a 1-2 record at last weekend's season-opening Memphis Invitational, but the slow start could be a good omen.

The Tigers look to turn around their fortunes at this weekend's Tiger Invitational, which is slated for Sept. 2-3 at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Memphis begins play Friday, Sept. 2 at 12 p.m. (CT) when it faces Jackson State. Later on Friday, the Tigers play Eastern Illinois at 7 p.m. (CT).

Although it's not a hole one wants to be in early, Tigers head coach April Jauregui has helped past squads bounce back, including her 2014 team that finished with a 23-11 overall record. Those 2014 Tigers began the campaign 1-2 and followed with another 1-2 weekend for a 2-4 record after six matches. Memphis responded with nine-straight victories and won 13 of its next 14 matches.

"It was a tough start to the season last weekend, but I believe this team can do some really good things," said Jauregui. "We gave each player three areas to work on this week, and if we get better in those areas, we give ourselves a much better chance to get that winning feeling back.

"Right now, no one likes the feeling we have in our stomachs as a result of the way we started off last week. Some things were exposed last week that we can't see in practice when we're playing against ourselves. We're playing some young kids early and they are good, but they just need some experience."

Last weekend, the Tigers defeated Chicago State 3-0 and dropped 3-1 decisions to Central Arkansas and Belmont. The Bruins took the Memphis Invitational title.

Despite the early setbacks, Memphis received solid play from seniors Summer Morgan and Catlin Lilly. Morgan, who was a Memphis Invitational All-Tournament Team pick, led the Tigers with nine total blocks and added 28 kills. She posted double-digit kills in consecutive matches against Central Arkansas and Belmont.

Lilly posted 31 kills in last weekend's three matches and passed the 900-kills plateau for her career. She nearly had a double-double with nine kills and 10 digs against Belmont.

Juniors Regan Comperry and Faith Myers split time at setter last weekend. Comperry registered 84 assists in the three matches, and Myers had 14 assists in her only match versus Belmont.

Joining Memphis in this weekend's Tiger Invitational are Eastern Illinois, Jackson State and Louisiana Tech. All three programs are making their first trips to Memphis in some time, with the most recent being Louisiana Tech in 2006. Jackson State's last visit to the Bluff City was in 2001, and Eastern Illinois' was in 1985.

"Jackson State is an NCAA Tournament team from a year ago, and Eastern Illinois is picked to finish high in the Ohio Valley Conference." Jauregui said. "Louisiana Tech has some strong middles on its team, and we also played them in the spring. But, more importantly, we're focused on our side of the net."