University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
11-11, 3-6AAC
Memphis
10-11, 3-6AAC
UConn forces five set bout against Memphis
10/21/2018 4:35:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Tuner, Jake-Turner set season highs
STORRS, Conn.—The UConn women's volleyball team took Memphis to the brink on Sunday afternoon for their sixth five set match of season. The Huskies (11-11, 3-6 AAC) fell in the waning moments of the decisive fifth set 3-2 to the Tigers (10-11, 3-6 AAC).
The opening set was a clear indication of how contested the rest of the match would be as Memphis barely took the win 26-24. UConn subbed in senior Iman McGary to serve, while trailing Memphis 22-19. On the set up initiated by McGary, freshman Kennadie Jake-Turner nabbed a crucial kill on an assist from senior Emma Turner to bring the Huskies within three and forcing a Tiger timeout. Coming directly out of the timeout McGary's service ace closed the gap even further. UConn strung together a series of kills coming from four different UConn players; Jake-Turner, freshman Caylee Parker, redshirt-senior Danielle Cabel, and McGary, to tie the set at 24 all. Memphis proceeding to narrowly take the set on a kill and an attack error.
Set two proved just as thrilling, coming down to the wire in the race to 25. A UConn timeout proved much need to regroup as Jake-Turner, shortly after, provided a kill to bring the Huskies back into contention at 22-19. Subbing in senior Kennedy Arundel allowed her to serve and obtain the ace in sequence. A later kill by Parker wasn't enough to take the second set but did allow UConn to inch closer to Memphis towards the conclusion of the set.
The Huskies had their way in the next two sets by a spread of 12 points. Once UConn had hit 10 points in the third set, they never looked back. Piling on the kills to eventually pull out of range from Memphis, Parker was able to wall of the set with a kill at 25-20.
Down but definitely not out, UConn forced the issue by taking the fourth set by the biggest differential of the afternoon 25-18. The back-and-forth set saw six ties before the breakaway push from the Huskies via a kill from Parker. Closing the book on this set was a pair of kills from fellow freshman Anna Petrova and a Jake-Turner score.
With the most ties of any set at eight, the fifth set rolled into 17 points. Before a Memphis timeout, UConn had gotten themselves out to a 4-0 scoring run. The teams were tick-for-tack as they inched closer to 15. Redshirt-sophomore Genna Florig started another Husky run with a kill of her own to take the lead at 9-8 and followed it up with another, moments later to retake the lead at 10-9. A Memphis attack error and kill by Parker put UConn up in the set 12-9. The Tigers dug in and tied the set at 12-12 before a UConn timeout. Petrova wouldn't allow her team to go gently into the night and strung together a pair of kills to regain not only the lead but momentum. Series later, she would score again to tie the set at 15 all before the Tigers would score two to take the match.
Turner turned out an impressive assist performance to set a new season high for herself at 61 assists in the match. She added three kills, hit .429, and nabbed two service aces, eight digs, and three block assists. Jake-Turner also had herself a great game hitting .329, an assist, a dig, seven block assists, while setting a new season high in kills at 16.
Petrova tied her season high, which she obtained vs. Syracuse, in kills with 16. She contributed a pair of digs and block assists to go along with hitting .406. Parker joined in with 21 kills, four assists, two service aces, two digs, and four block assists.
Senior Elizabeth Kline provided 21 digs, fifth time this season with 20 or more in a match, and Arundel added 14, sixth time this season with 10 or more in a match. The team had 11 total blocks.
This match had a total of 27 ties and eight lead changes.
The Huskies hit the road to take on Wichita State Friday, Oct. 26th at 8:00 p.m. and Tulsa Sunday, Oct. 28th at 1:00 p.m.
