Marquette University
University of Memphis
Volleyball Loses Heartbreaker to Memphis
10/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 24, 2003
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MILWAUKEE - The Marquette Golden Eagles Volleyball team saw their upset hopes fade late, losing a hard fought five-game match to the Memphis Tigers 24-30, 30-23, 29-31, 30-27 and 12-15. Marquette (5-12, 2-5 C-USA) was paced by sophomore Theresa Coughlin and junior Erin Freer, who contributed 22 and 21 kills, respectively. Senior setter Gemma Greer doled out 59 assists, while freshman libero Jamie Mueller's 16 digs were second on the team to Freer's 20.
Memphis (23-2, 5-1 C-USA) sported a trio of 20+ kill attackers, in the form of sophomore Nancy Nellans (23), senior Brittany Barnett (22) and junior Tiara Gilkey (20). Running the attack for the Tigers was junior Heather Watts, who dished out 65 assists, while also leading Memphis in digs, with 21.
Marquette jumped out a quick lead in game one at 10-6. With the Golden Eagles leading 15-13, Memphis stormed back, taking the next five points, including two strong-side kills by Nellans. Erin Freer led the Golden Eagles with seven kills in the first game (7-3-12).
The teams traded points for the first two-thirds of game two, until senior Ann Lopata led the Golden Eagles on an 11-3 run to close the game out 30-23. With the score knotted at 21, Lopata paired up with Gemma Greer on a block assist, and followed that with three consecutive kills out of the middle, to open up a 24-21 lead from which Marquette would not look back.
Game three swung the momentum in favor of the Tigers, who stormed back from a 24-20 deficit to steal the game 31-29. Gilkey and Barnett did the honors for Memphis, each chipping in two kills in the five points of the game.
Once again, Marquette responded, by taking an exhilarating game four. Following a Memphis timeout, with the Tigers leading 21-14, the Golden Eagles closed out the game on a 16-6 run, including four kills by Freer, who used three well placed dinks to bring Marquette back into the lead.
Game five saw the Memphis block take control, totaling four team blocks, to Marquette's one. The Tigers .233 hitting percentage in the final game bested Marquette's .167.
Marquette Coach Pati Rolf found hope in how the Golden Eagles clawed back. "This team just doesn't quit. They have a lot of heart, and if you look at our results, I think it shows that. Right now, we are lacking some experience that might help us in these hard fought games."
Marquette looks to get back in the win column with 5 p.m. start on Saturday, against the Billikens of Saint Louis.
