Oct. 15, 2006

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -

SMU (12-11; 3-6 C-USA)	20	18	30	26
Memphis (19-4; 5-3 C-USA)	30	30	24	30

The University of Memphis volleyball team got double figures in kills from Ashley Liford, Melissa Nance and Colette Ramirez to lead the troops to a 3-1 win over SMU Sunday afternoon at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. The win extended Memphis' home win streak to 11 matches--one of the 11 longest such win streaks in the nation.

Memphis finished SMU off by hitting .312 in the final game of the match. Liford, who finished with 17 kills, went for seven kills in the frame and Ramirez downed six kills. The Tigers led by two points midway through, and increased its lead to 26-20 late in the game. From there Memphis held on for a 30-26 win in the finale.

The Tigers got out of the gates quickly, winning games one and two for a comfortable lead heading into the intermission. Memphis held SMU to a -.029 hitting percentage in the opening frame and just .125 in game two.

A nine-point rally in game one gave Memphis a commanding 11-5 cushion, and the Tiger never allowed the Mustangs to challenge the rest of the set in a 30-20 win.

Game two saw Memphis trail early, until Nance, started a 5-0 run with one of her 13 kills to knot the game at 9-9. The rally gave Memphis a 12-9 lead. The Tigers then scored on 12 of the next 17 rallies to cruise to a 10-point lead at 24-14. Ramirez hammered one of the 10 kills to seal the win and give Memphis its largest lead of the game in a 30-18 final.

A rejuvenated SMU squad came out in the third game, and dominated Memphis. The Mustangs limited the Tigers to a .024 attacking clip, while hitting a torrid .342 with 18 kills. After trailing for the half the frame, Memphis pulled even at 14 with an ace by Sarah Bury. But Memphis was unable to gain the lead as SMU scored the next four points for an 18-14 lead. The Tigers' deficit grew to seven points at 27-20 before falling 30-24.

The Tigers got a double-double of 49 assists and 14 digs from setter Laura Côté. Kori Smith led all players with four aces, while Shelby Burton added a trio of aces. Memphis served up 13 aces in the match. Bury and libero Christen Clayton had 15 digs each.

Memphis will stay at home for its next two matches, hosting UCF and Southern Miss in league contests on Friday (Oct. 20) and Sunday (Oct. 22), respectively.