Memphis volleyball started the last stretch of their non-conference schedule with a trip down I-55 to take on the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford, falling in three consecutive sets.
Despite not winning a single set, the Tigers remained competitive throughout the entire match. Led by Amanda Hardt’s 14 kills, Memphis never trailed by more than two points in the first set and clawed back from a 5-1 deficit to make the second set close down the stretch.
The Tigers started the third set very strongly, looking to avoid the dreaded sweep. Memphis took a 13-12 lead in the period, when Hardt went down hard with an injury and said through tears that it was her knee. Thankfully, she was able to walk off the floor on her own power and even cracked a smile of relief that it wasn’t as serious as she initially thought. After Hardt was substituted out of the match, the Rebels were able to recapture the lead in the set and finish the sweep.
Memphis will look to bounce back in the Crimson Classic, where they face off against Alabama at 6 p.m. CST on Thursday and UCF at 4 p.m. CST on Friday.
