University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
13-14, 5-9
Memphis
11-15, 4-10
Huskies find redemption in five set match against Tigers
11/9/2018 11:08:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Split season series at 1-1
MEMPHIS, Tenn.—The UConn (13-14, 5-9 AAC) women's volleyball team took on Memphis (11-15, 4-10 AAC) in a redemption seeking match for the Huskies on Friday night with a final score of 3-2. The match flowed over into a five set battle mirroring the first matchup of the season back on Oct. 21 in Storrs.
The narrative of this match emulated that of the later one, almost identically. The Tigers took the opening sets by a narrow margin, 25-18 in Set 1 and 25-23 in Set 2.
Coming out of the intermission, the Huskies turned up their focus and level of play to battle back into competing position. UConn would force the issue by taking the next pair of sets, sending the match into another tightly contested fifth set.
How it happened…
Set 3
- After subbing in seniors Kennedy Arundel and Iman McGary, UConn nabbed back-to-back kills from the freshmen duo of Kennadie Jake-Turner and Caylee Parker. The addition of a Memphis attack error put the Huskies up 6-2.
- The Tigers would mount a late run inching closer to the Huskies at 21-20 before a UConn timeout. Coming out of that brief break, McGary set one striking into Memphis territory to provide her team some much needed cushion at 22-20.
- McGary and Jake-Turner would team up to extinguish the up-and-coming Tiger rally, aided by a Memphis attack error the Huskies would take Set 3 25-23.
Set 4
- Toggling the lead back and forth, McGary's kill tied at 9 all, and was followed a Parker kill to take the lead again for the Huskies.
- The set's final tie came at 18 points when Huskies took a timeout to reevaluate.
- Coming out of the cessation, a Memphis service and attack error would increase UConn's lead to 20. This begin the Huskies' aggressive overall push to 25.
- Parker and senior Danielle Cabel would post UConn's final four kills, both finishing the set with a pair of their own. Huskies win this set 25-22, to force a crucial fifth set.
In the final set, UConn tabbed the first points and traded blows with Memphis until the pull away around the eighth point via a Cabel kill to tie the set up. Parker would follow the precedent and add a point to the mounting Husky rally. Moments after a Tiger timeout, Parker posted another kill to increase the lead to 12-9. UConn's defense would put Memphis in a tough spot for the remainder of the set forcing them into various errors, and handing UConn freebies. Fittingly, McGary closed the night with a kill in the race to 15 allowing the Huskies to split the season series with the Tigers at 1-1. As a team in the final set UConn's hitting percentage was .357, the highest of the night.
The Huskies ended the night with three in double-digits for kills; Parker (23), Cabel (12), and McGary (11). Finishing with six service aces, they were acquired by senior Emma Turner (1), Parker (2), and McGary (3). As a team UConn swatted away potential Memphis points a total of four times; with Jake-Turner (3), Parker (2), and McGary (1) getting in on the action individually. In the assist column, Turner dished out 32 followed by redshirt-freshman setter Courtney Morris who pitched in 19 of her own with an additional four coming from senior Elizabeth Kline. Kline led the way in the double-digit dig effort with 24 of her own while Parker and Turner added 23 collectively.
This match had a total of 28 ties and 12 lead changes.
The Huskies will wrap up their final road match of the 2018 season on Sunday, Nov. 11th at 2:00 p.m. in yet another redemptive seeking trip to battle the Tulane Green Wave in New Orleans, La.
