The Tigers hit the road this past weekend for back-to-back conference matchups against Tulsa and SMU, losing their fourth consecutive Conference USA game with losses against both teams.
The U of M's C-USA record dropped to 4-9.
The Tigers (15-11) looked to rebound after dropping one match on the road to Rice and another at home against Houston last weekend. Outside hitter Altrese Hawkins led the offense against Rice with 10 kills. Vesna Jelic (11) and Aleksandra Petronijevic (13) each finished with digs in double digits. Against Houston, Marija Jovanovic led the Tigers in kills with 14, while Hawkins and Jelic recorded double-digit kills and digs.
In a hard-fought game in Tulsa, Okla., the Golden Hurricanes dropped Memphis in three straight sets (19-25;27-29;19-25). Three Tigers registered double-digit kills in the loss. Marija Jovanovich posted 15, Altrese Hawkins had 13 and Lauren Hawkins had 10.
"Tulsa is like last year – one of the best if not the best team in the conference," said assistant coach Marko Majstorovic.
Along with double digit kills, Jovanovic also totaled seven digs and three blocks in the loss, while Hajnalka Molnar finished with 40 assists and eight digs. Petronijevic ended the match with 14 digs, which led the defense. Despite the loss, the Tigers hit .279 as a team and had more kills and digs than Tulsa, with 44 and 46, respectively.
Memphis played a back-and-forth match against SMU where three of their players earned double digit kills as they fought their way back from a 2-0 deficit in the 3-2 loss (25-23;25-21;16-25;14-25;13-15).
"When they play good, they are a really good team and tough team to beat," Majstrovic said of SMU.
With Hawkins leading the Tigers in kills with 20, Memphis still couldn't put up a fight against SMU's defense. Right side hitter Jovanovic also registered 16 kills to accompany seven digs. Jelic and Hajnalka Molnar both put up double doubles, with Jelic downing 10 kills and 12 digs and Molnar totaling 48 assists and 10 digs.
The Tigers return home for back-to-back matches on Thursday, Nov. 4, and Friday, Nov. 5, both against UCF at 7 p.m.
"We have to build momentum as much as we can and use it against UCF here and then we have a more easier schedule for the season," Majstorovic said. "The girls are really motivated, playing those teams in this part of the year can really help us."
