Tigers Rally to Fifth Set but Fall in SEMO Invitational Opener

Friday, September 10

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO.

7 P.M.

University of Memphis

6-1

Southeast Missouri State

6-2

Memphis

Southeast Missouri

Tigers Rally to Fifth Set but Fall in SEMO Invitational Opener

Sep 10, 2021 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – In an attempt to remain perfect on the season, the Memphis Tigers (6-1) rallied from a two-set deficit but fell 3-2 to Southeast Missouri (6-2). Memphis had faced just one set point over the first six matches of the season but never led in the opening stanza, the Tigers' first lost set of the season.

Memphis 2, Southeast Missouri 3
21-25, 20-25, 25-23, 26-24, 13-15

Set 1

Southeast Missouri scored the opening point of the match, never trailed in the set, and faced just one tie
The Redhawks led by as many as seven at 18-11 and the Tigers didn't get within fewer than two points
Gigi Crescenzo had seven kills in the set for Memphis
Memphis hit just .143 as a team in the set, one of four sub-.160 hitting sets for the Tigers

Set 2

The set saw just two ties and one lead change, all amidst the first five points
SEMO took a 3-2 lead and Memphis never got closer than one
Memphis trailed by as many as seven (17-10) and got the deficit down to two (22-22), though the Redhawks scored the final three points of the set

Set 3

SEMO begin the set on a 10-3 run before the Tigers answered with an 18-4 run to lead 21-14
The Redhawks fought off four set points to pull within one at 24-23 before a kill by Elizabeth Orf got Memphis its first set of the match

Set 4

The set featured 10 ties and seven lead changes
Neither side led by more than two points until a 5-0 SEMO run gave the Redhawks a 13-10 lead
Trailing 21-17, Memphis got kills from Autumn Hamilton and Orf as well as a SEMO error to pull within one
Miaya Smith had consecutive kills to fight off SEMO's match point and then tie the set 24-24
A kill by Sabrina Bianco gave the Tigers set point and Memphis extended the match to the fifth set on a SEMO error

Set 5

Neither side led by more than two points until SEMO took an 11-8 lead on a kill by Zoey Beasley
Memphis won three straight points to level the set 12-12
Down to match point, Smith's 13^th kill of the match kept the Tigers alive before SEMO ended the match on a kill by Elissa Moylan
The final set featured six ties and three lead changes

Tigers Tidbits

Memphis set a new 2021 single-game high with 14 total blocks
Elizabeth Orf's match-best 10 blocks were part of her first double-double of the season
Sabrina Bianco, who entered the match leading the nation in assists per set, set a new season high with 47 assists
Four Tigers had double-digit kills including Miaya Smith (13), Autumn Hamilton (13), Gigi Crescenzo (11), and Orf (11)

Up Next

The Tigers will face Kansas City and Marshall Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. respectively
After the SEMO Invitational, Memphis will play at home for the first time this season as the Tigers host the Tiger Brawl Sep. 17-18

How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Volleyball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.