Oct. 8, 2004

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis volleyball team will take its nine-match winning streak on the road for =Conference USA contests against Southern Miss, on Fri., Oct. 8 before a matchup againt Tulane on Sat., Oct. 9. Both matches are set for 7 p.m. starts.

Memphis leads the all-time series with both teams. They hold a 15-11 advantage against Southern Miss and are 16-14 all-time against Tulane. Memphis handed Tulane a 3-1 loss in last year's meetint at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Tiger senior setter Heather Watts leads the Conference and is 19th in the nation with 962 assists on the year, while freshman Shelby Burton ranks fourth in hitting percentage (.357) among league attackers. Melissa Nance and Christen Clayton, who both have 41 service aces rank third and fifth, respectively in the conference. Nance ranks 27th among all NCAA Division I players with 0.62 service aces per game.

Southern Miss is 3-9 on the season and 0-2 in C-USA play after dropping both of their first two league contests to Houston and TCU. The Golden Eagles have lost seven straight and have been shutout in five of its nine losses on the year. USM defeated Memphis in five games in last year's matchup in Memphis. The Golden Eagles have struggled offensively, hitting just .137 as a team.

Tulane is 1-1 in league play after splitting matches in the C-USA opening weekend. The Green Wave lost to TCU 3-1 before handing Houston a 3-2 setback. Tulane got off to a solid 5-0 start, but has since split its last six matches. Anastasia Kenon has returned to the lineup to post double-doubles in each of the first two league contests. TU boasts preseason All C-USA pick in Deva Fowler. Fowler leads the squad with 158 kills and 53 blocks.

Following the two-match road swing, the Tigers will return home for matches against ECU and Charlotte on Oct. 15 and 16. Both matches are set for 7 p.m.