The Memphis Tigers Volleyball team (10-19) fell short against the University of South Florida Bulls (15-10) in three sets at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse on Sunday afternoon's “Hawaiian Day” game, which took their losing streak to 8 games.
The first set started up with both teams trading blows, before USF jumped out to a 6-3 lead. The Tigers tied the game at 8-8 behind 2 points from Jasmyn Tate. USF extended their lead to 14-12 after 3 kills from Arianna Beckham. Memphis kept fighting before calling their first timeout of the game, down 18-15. Maddy Bach was everywhere for the Tigers, recording 4 of her 5 digs of the game (along with 16 total assists which lead the Tigers in this game) in the first set. The next few minutes each team continued trading points, until USF, won their final point of the set off of a kill from Addy Brus, winning 25-23
In the second set, USF kept the momentum rolling at they got out to an 8-2 lead, after several errors from the Tigers. Bach had a tremendous save for Memphis before then scoring on the next possession bring the score 8-4 USF. Both teams had trouble staying disciplined as USF recorded 6 errors, and the Tigers had 5 errors as they found themselves down 17-13. Zaniah Hoskins tried to keep the Tigers alive after scoring her 4th kill of the set, but USF would pull away and win the second set 25-21. USF had 8 different players record at least 1 kill during this set and was led by Maria Clara Andrade, who finished with 5 of her 13 game leading total kills in the second set. The multiple errors in this quarter could be chalked up to USF’s intense pressure they play with, the youth of this Tigers squad, or just not having the learned experience quiet yet.
“Unforced errors and youth are always gonna play a role, said head coach Cheri Lindsey. “That’s what happens when half your roster is freshman, we just gotta keep building up.”
The third set began with an electrifying block from Andrade which took the Bulls to an early 2-0 lead. Memphis’ Hoskins and Brianna Washington’s early offense in this set helped keep the Tigers within striking distance, before Memphis committed two back-to-back errors to take USF’s lead 9-4. But Memphis would not go away quietly, as Janyah Henderson scored her two kills of the set to cut the lead 13-7. Not to be outdone by her teammate, Brianna Washington then went on a 2 kill run to bring the Tigers within 3, 16-13. The Tigers continued to claw their way back, with the help of outstanding defense and multiple digs from Abigail Schlueter, who led the game with 13 total digs. The Tigers eventually lost 25-17 after a kill from Andrade to seal the game.
This lose drops the Tigers to 1-13 in conference play this season and keeps them in last place in the American Conference standings. Memphis has also not won a single set in the last 3 games, but there is still time to end the season on a good note.
“I’m just continuing to fine tune the small things, and just get better and better day by day,” coach Lindsey said. “We have about a week of the season left, so we still got a lot of stuff we need to work on going forward.”
The Tigers will head on the road for their final two games of the season, with their next game against the Charlotte 49ers in Charlotte, North Carolina on Friday at 7p.m. Both of these final games will be available to watch on ESPN+.
