The Tigers Fall in Conference Home Opener to USF

Saturday, September 23

Memphis, Tenn.

1:00 p.m.

University of Memphis

4-10,0-2AAC

South Florida

8-5,2-0AAC

South Fla.

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Sep 23, 2023 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Tigers fell 3-0 to USF in their conference home opener on Saturday afternoon. Memphis (4-10) played close sets but were unable to put together a winning set. The Tigers hit .211 with 30 kills and tallied nine blocks in the match, however struggled at the service line with seven service errors in the books.

USF 3, Memphis 0

Memphis and USF began the first set, exchanging point for point, neither team able to put a run together. The Tigers pulled together a 4-0 run midway through the first set, forcing a Bulls timeout. The run was aided by kills from Tabytha Toelke and Hannah Jones, along with a solo block from Clara Bednarek.
USF began chipping away at the Memphis lead, before overtaking the Tigers at 18-17, forcing them to call a timeout.
The Tigers would go on to force to set points, with a block from Jones and Bednarek and a kill from Autumn Flynn before the Bulls would take the set 25-21.
Both sides started strong in set two, with USF holding a slight lead over Memphis, the score 15-12 into the media timeout.
The Bulls would end the set on a 10-2 run, capitalizing off Memphis attacking and service errors, along with providing a presence at the net.
The Tigers took the lead early in set three, going on a 5-1 run midway through the set, forcing a Bulls timeout. Madison Rice-Locket proved her presence at the net, providing kills and blocks for the Tigers.
USF would claw back to take the lead, going on an 11-2 run that was riddled with services aces and good ball placement late in the set. The Bulls would go on to take set three 25-19.

Notables

Three Tigers hits .300 or higher: Bednarek (.385), Jordan Heatherly (.375), and Rice-Locket (.300)
Memphis was led in kills by Rice-Locket with eight, followed by Bednarek with six.
Bednarek led the Tigers with five blocks, Flynn and Rice-Locket following behind with three a piece.

Up Next: The Tigers will close their series against USF Sunday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m.

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.