Memphis Drops First Match of Beale Street Challenge

Thursday, September 14

Memphis, Tenn.

1:00 p.m.

University of Memphis

3-7,0-0AAC

Arizona State

10-0,0-0Pac-12

Arizona St.

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Memphis Drops First Match of Beale Street Challenge

Sep 14, 2023 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Tigers drop their first match of the Beale Street Challenge to ASU, 3-0, on Thursday afternoon. Memphis struggled in the first set, before coming back and fight a back-and-forth battle through the final two sets. Clara Bednarek led the Tigers hitting on a .400 clip, recording eight kills on 15 attempts.

ASU 3, Memphis 0

ASU took a commanding lead to start the first set, going on a 9-3 run, forcing a Memphis timeout to break up the momentum.
The Sun Devils went on another long run, 7-3, with kills coming from Marta Levinska and capitalizing off Memphis errors. The Tigers broke up the run with a kill from Tabytha Toelke and service errors from ASU.
ASU would go on to take the set 25-10, with back-to-back aces to end set one.
Clara Bednarek, Madison Rice-Locket and Toelke put down kills early for the Tigers, allowing them a slight lead early in set two.
The Sun Devils took the lead back, going on a 7-1 run, midway through the second set. The Tigers kept it close, trading point-for-point.
Autumn Flynn put down back-to-back kills late in the second set, making it 21-22 bringing Memphis within one point. ASU would take a close set two, 25-22.
Memphis and ASU opened set three trading points back and forth, the Tigers taking a slight lead on a 4-0 run, forcing a Sun Devil Timeout.
The Tigers held the lead halfway through the third set, aided by kills from Loren Robertson Toelke and Bednarek.
Rylee Busse recorded an ace late in the third set, bringing the Tigers within two points. ASU would take the match after winning set three 25-21.

Notables

The Tigers were led by Bednarek and Toelke with eight kills apiece.
Bailey Houlihan led Memphis with eight digs, followed closely by Robertson with seven digs.

Up Next: The Tigers will host Southern Miss on Friday, Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. on day two of the Beale Street Challenge.

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.