The University of Memphis volleyball team made it look easy this weekend in Starkville, Mississippi, where they took first place in the Maroon Classic only dropping two sets in four matches.
The Tigers (6-4) beat Nicholls State, tournament host Mississippi State, Northwestern State and South Alabama en route to the tournament title.
Memphis head coach April Jauregui said she was glad to see her team play to their potential.
“I thought we showed the type of team we can be this weekend," Jauregui said after the tournament. "We know it is a continual process to build a high-caliber team. Our team responded well to adversity and showed a lot of poise.”
The Blue and Gray’s toughest match of the weekend came against the tournament hosts. The Bulldogs were the only team to take a set from the Tigers, but Memphis came out on top with a decisive 3-2 victory.
Jauregui applauded the Mississppi State effort following the game.
"We didn't make it easy on ourselves," Jauregui said. "I thought we had control of the match from the first set, but MSU battled back. This is our first five-set win and it was nice to get over the hump. No matter what, it is a win over an SEC school.”
The U of M won all six sets in their two matches on championship Saturday. In both matches, the Tigers showed great discipline, limiting their mistakes and forcing mistakes from their opponents.
Freshman Kate Gibson led the Tigers’ charge. She posted a double-double against Northwestern State with 12 kills and 11 digs, and she hit over .300 against South Alabama in the championship.
Gibson’s efforts earned her the tournament’s Most-Outstanding Player award, and junior Alexis Wesley and senior Aleksandra Petronijevic joined Gibson on the All-Tournament team.
Petronijevic had a big weekend of her own. The Serbia native notched 35 digs in the Tigers’ five-set win over the Bulldogs on Friday. The effort moved Petronijevic into first for career digs at the U of M, which was previously set in 2006 by Christen Clayton.
The libero’s efforts also earned her recognition from the American Volleyball Scouting Report, who named Petronijevic their player of the week. The American Athletic Conference also named her to their weekly honor roll.
Jauregui praised Petronijevic’s contribution the program after the match.
"Aleksandra has been a tremendous asset to the program," Jauregui said. "Ever since I saw her six years ago in a small gym in Serbia I knew she was a special player. I am very proud of her and this accomplishment."
Last weekend’s tournament was the first of two final tune-ups before the Tigers begin conference play. Memphis travels to Knoxville next weekend to play in the Lady Vol Classic before opening play in the American on Sept. 26.
