Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Memphis
Volleyball Falls At Memphis
9/15/2006 5:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Murray State women's volleyball team faced off against Memphis in the Memphis Invitational tonight in a battle of the top two teams. Each team had only one loss coming in, but it was the host Tigers that prevailed 3-0. Game scores were 30-24, 31-29, 30-28.
In the first game, the Racers stayed close with the Tigers until Memphis ran off a number of points to take a 16-9 lead. MSU fought back, pulling to within 16-12 before Memphis used its fast-paced offense to take a 19-13 lead. The Racers fought back late, but Memphis took the 30-24 win in Game 1.
In that game, senior Katie Kemezys led Murray State with five kills in six attacks to go with a game-high two blocks. Sophomore Alison Mugler added four kills for MSU to go with a game-high six digs. Memphis was led by Ashley Liford's seven kills and Shelby Burton's two aces.
In Game 2, Murray State took an early 3-2 lead and exchanged points with the Tigers until Memphis took an 11-10 lead. MSU ran off five points behind the serving of sophomore Alyssa Groves to take a 15-11 lead. Memphis brought it back to tie it at 15-15, but Murray State retook the lead, 17-15, behind the serving of Mugler. Senior Allie Hunt served the Racers to a 21-16 lead. The Tigers battled back to within 22-21, and fought back from four points down to take the game 31-29.
In that game, Kemezys, Groves and junior Tara DeMage each had three kills. Kemezys stayed error-free, getting three kills in 10 attacks in Game 2. Kemezys and DeMage each had two blocks for MSU. Memphis was paced by Sarah Bury's nine kills and two aces.
In the third game, Memphis jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but Murray State fought back to pull to within 10-9, then tied the game at 14-14. The Tigers ran off five straight points to take a 20-15 lead. MSU scored two points to cut the Memphis lead to 20-17, but the Tigers scored three more to take a 23-17. Murray State fought back late, outscoring Memphis 6-1 down the stretch, but fell 30-28 in the deciding game.
Murray State was led by Kemezys, who had 10 kills and no errors for an attack percentage of .526. She also had a co-match-high six blocks.
DeMage added eight kills, while Mugler had seven. Mugler repelled a match-high 19 digs, while sophomore Heather Norris had 16. Freshman Cassie Chesney handed out 33 assists for MSU.
Memphis was paced by Liford, who had 18 kills, and Bury, who had 16. Burton had six blocks and three aces for the Tigers.
"We played hard, but we didn't play well," said MSU head coach David Schwepker. "Memphis is a very, very good team with really, really good players. We need to regroup tomorrow and come out playing like we can."
Murray State will close out its tour of the Memphis Invitational tomorrow (Saturday) against DePaul (4-7) at 11:30 a.m. and Central Arkansas (6-6) at 4:30 p.m.
