Volleyball Falls To Temple Friday

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – University of Memphis' Hannah Flowers led the Tigers in kills and hitting percentage, but Temple took the 3-0 American Athletic Conference victory at McGonigle Hall Friday.
 
The Owls won the match by scores of 25-15, 25-21 and 25-20. With the setback, Memphis drops to 9-11 overall and 2-6 in The American. Temple improves to 5-15 overall and 2-6 in the conference.
 
Flowers, the reigning Tennessee Sport Writers Association (TSWA) Player of the Week, led Memphis with 12 kills and a .476 hitting percentage.
 
Up Next
Memphis continues its weekend road trip Sunday when the Tigers travel to Storrs, Conn., for a 11 a.m. (CT) Sunday match against the Connecticut Huskies.
 
Head coach Sean Burdette comments
"It was a very tough and loud environment to play in this evening. They challenged us from the first point and defended us well. They took us out of our rhythm, and they were able to play from in front most of the match. We have a quick turnaround to prep for UConn on Sunday."
 
Tigers Tidbits

• Hannah Flowers posted her 17^thdouble-digit kills match of the season with her 12 kills Friday. It was the 29^thdouble-figures kills match of her career.
• Flowers led Memphis in kills for the 13^thtime this season.
• Flowers' .476 hitting percentage Friday was her second-best of the season. She posted a .545 hitting percentage in a Sept. 1 win over UAB.
• Molly Murrihy nearly had her eighth double-double of the season with 25 assists and nine digs.
• After a career-high 20-digs performance last Sunday, Anna Palmer followed up with 11 digs and six kills in Friday's match.

 

Statistic	Memphis Leaders	Temple Leaders
Kills	Hannah Flowers, 12	Irem Asci, 15
Assists	Molly Murrihy, 25	Tyler Lindgren, 24
Digs	Anna Palmer, 11 Kaitlyn Gehler, 11	Mia Heirakuji, 9 Averi Salvador, 9
Blocks	Kelsey Walter, 3	4 players, 2
Aces	Anna Palmer, 1	Iva Deak, 3

 
Set One

• Temple jumped out to an early 6-1 lead and never trailed in the set.
• The Owls extended their advantage to seven points on four occasions, the last time at 13-6.
• Memphis sliced the Temple lead to five at 15-10 on an Owls' service error.
• The Tigers, though, got no closer the remainder of the set.
• Temple pushed out to an eight-point lead at 20-12 and went on to win the set 25-15.

 
Set Two

• The Tigers battled in the second set and held the lead most of the way.
• Memphis built an early 4-1 lead on kills from Kelsea Bivins and Sarah Marlatt.
• The Tigers maintained their slim advantage and even extended it to five points at 12-7 on an Anna Palmer ace.
• Temple then went on a 7-3 run to pull to within one at 15-14.
• Memphis answered by pushing back out to a three-point advantage at 18-15 on two Hannah Flowers kills and one Palmer kill.
• The Tigers held a 19-17 lead when Temple made a surge to take control of the set.
• The Owls used a 4-1 spurt to take a 21-20 lead.
• Temple closed the set with a 4-1 run for the 25-21 win.

 
Set Three

• The set started with four ties in the first 10 points.
• Memphis tied the set at 5-all on consecutive kills from Palmer and Bivins.
• Temple responded in a big way, putting together a 13-3 run to take an 18-8 lead and never trail again.
• Although they never regained the lead, the Tigers fought back and cut the Owls' advantage to 24-20 late in the set.
• Flowers logged four kills in the run.
• Temple closed the set with a kill for the 25-20 win and 3-0 match victory.