For the first time since 1997, the University of Memphis volleyball team has started the season with a 7-0 record.
The Lady Tigers have won the first two tournaments of the season and according to head coach Carrie Yerty, her team is just warming up.
“We’ve gotten off to a good start,” Yerty said. “The best thing about it is that we haven’t played our best volleyball yet.”
The U of M squad took the Kent State Tournament this weekend after beating Kent State in the championship match.
LaSalle University, Robert Morris College and Cornell University also fell to the Tigers enroute to the championship match.
“Anytime you can beat a team like Robert Morris, that’s been to the NCAA tournament two years in a row, that’s a good thing,” Yerty said.
Senior Ginger Garrett, junior Adrianne Edmonds and senior Amie Hamilton were named to the All-Tournament Team.
“We’ve had real consistent play from Ginger Garrett,” Yerty said.
Garrett helped lead the Tigers in the final match with 20 kills, 13 digs and four assisted blocks. She also led the team in kills during the tournament with 69.
Edmonds played her best defensively in the championship match, recording 16 kills and 17 digs.
Hamilton’s tournament totals included 172 assists - an average of 43 per match - and 49 digs with a match-high of 24 in the championship match. Her outstanding play won her the honor of Tournament MVP for the second time this season. Hamilton was also named MVP at the UNC-Ashville Bulldog Classic earlier this month.
In addition, Hamilton was named Conference USA Volleyball Player of the Week.
According to Yerty, freshman Heather Watts also excelled during this weekend’s tournament.
“Heather Watts has been a great defensive surprise,” Yerty said.
Watts recorded 33 kills for the tournament.
Sophomore Shella Neba and senior Emily Eichmann also played strong defensively during the tournament.
Memphis outblocked their opponents in the KSU tournament 37 to 20.
The undefeated Tigers will travel to Boca Raton, Fla., this weekend to compete in the Florida Atlantic Tournament.
“We have a big weekend coming up,” Yerty said. “It will be a tough weekend for us.”
The U of M squad will take on Youngstown State on Friday. The Penguins are coming off of a championship win at the West Point Invitational.
The Tigers will continue play Saturday against North Carolina State University and Florida Atlantic University.
