Nov. 14, 2005

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -

2005 Conference USA Volleyball Tournament Bracket
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The University of Memphis volleyball team dropped a pair of league matches over the weekend and fell to the eighth seed in the Conference USA final standings. The Tigers (16-15; 7-7 C-USA) will face No. 9 UCF (8-17; 6-10 C-USA) on Thurs., Nov. 17 in the tournament's opening contest. Match time is set for 1 p.m. The C-USA Volleyball Championship will be hosted by league newcomer, Rice.

The all-time series between the Tigers and the Golden Knights is tied at 4-4 after the two teams split the 2005 series. Memphis handed UCF its first league loss back on Oct. 2 in a 3-1 decision. The Golden Knights then gave the Tigers their first home loss of the season in a five-game battle on Oct 30.

Regular season champ Marshall also claimed the field's No. 1 seed. The Thundering Herd, along with No. 2 Houston, No. 3 Tulsa, and No. 4 UTEP has all earned first-round byes.

The winner of the Memphis/UCF contest will advance to a second-round meeting with Marshall on Friday. The U of M split with the season series with Marshall, but was swept by the Herd in Sunday's regular-season finale.

The semifinal matches are slated for Saturday, Nov. 19, at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., with the championship match set for Sunday, Nov. 20 at 4 p.m. (CT). The match will be televised live by CSTV.

The 2005 C-USA Volleyball Championship schedule is as follows:

Thursday, November 17, 2005:
Match 1 - (9) UCF vs. (8) Memphis 1 p.m.
Match 2 - (12) Southern Miss vs. (5) East Carolina 3 p.m.
Match 3 - (11) Tulane vs. (6) Rice 6 p.m.
Match 4 - (10) UAB vs. (7) SMU 8 p.m.

Friday, November 18, 2005:
Match 5 - (1) Marshall vs. Winner of UCF/Memphis 1 p.m.
Match 6 - (4) UTEP vs. Winner of Southern Miss/East Carolina 3 p.m.
Match 7 - (3) Tulsa vs. Winner of Tulane/Rice 6 p.m.
Match 8 - (2) Houston vs. Winner of UAB/SMU 8 p.m.

Saturday, November 19, 2005 (Semifinals):
Match 9 - Winner of Match 5 vs. Winner of Match 6 5 p.m.
Match 10 - Winner of Match 7 vs. Winner of Match 8 7 p.m.

Sunday, November 20, 2005 (Championship):
Match 11 - Championship Match (CSTV) 4 p.m.

All Times Central. All matches will be played at Autry Court, Houston, Texas.