The University of Memphis volleyball team dropped the matchup against SMU Friday but bounced back with a victory Sunday against USF. Sabrina Bianco was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll, the league office announced Monday. This is her second recognition of the season with the first back in September.
SMU
The Tigers fought a hard battle with the Mustangs Friday, but they lost 2-3. SMU gets the sweep of the Tigers this season and improves to 15-6 on the season as Memphis falls to a 14-9 record. The scores in the game were 25-19, 16-25, 25-27, 25-19 and 13-15.
Meredith Wallace, Jada Birkel and Bianco all set career-highs in the contest. Wallace’s career-high was in kills with 22 in the game, and she also had 12 digs and posted her seventh double-double of the season. The sophomore also had two aces in the contest.
Birkel also had a career-high in kills with 12. Bianco’s career-high came in the digs category as she posted 23. The transfer playmaker also had 53 assists Friday, and this was her ninth double-double of the season and the 15th of her career.
Meryn Kennedy led SMU with 12 kills, six blocks and an ace in the contest. Kaylyn Winkler added 19 kills for the Mustangs. Lily Heim posted a double-double with 48 assists and 16 digs Friday. That was her 13th double-double on the season.
USF
A day after the football team had a historic day, the volleyball team wrapped up a great weekend for Memphis Tigers Athletics with a 3-1 win over South Florida Sunday. With the win, Memphis improved to 15-9 on the season and 4-8 in conference play. The scores in the match were 25-15, 15-25, 25-16 and 25-16.
Wallace and Bianco both had double-double performances to lead the way for the home team. The sophomore had 13 kills and 13 digs in the contest. It was Wallace’s eighth double-double of the season and career.
Bianco had 42 assists and 13 digs in the match. The sophomore transfer posted her 10th double-double of the season and 16th of her career. Bianco also tallied her 15th 40-assists match of her career. 14 of the 15 came within this season alone.
Hannah Flowers posted a game-high 18 kills. The junior right-side hitter is closing in on 1,000 kills for her career. She currently has 940 after the two games from the weekend. Flowers also had two aces and three blocks in Sunday’s game.
Lindsey Pliapol led the Bulls with 10 kills and nine digs in the contest. She also recorded two blocks. Ally Barnhart had a game-high six blocks to go along with three kills. Lauren LaBeck tallied 27 assists and two blocks for the Bulls.
Wrap-up
There are only four games left in the regular season before the conference championship tournament starts. Before all that, the Tigers will head back on the road for their final two away games of the regular season.
On Friday, they will travel to Oklahoma to play the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes (14-11) at noon Tulsa got the best of Memphis in an earlier meeting between the two teams when they were swept on their home floor.
After Friday’s game, the Tigers will travel to Kansas to play the Wichita State Shockers (7-17) at 1 p.m. Last time these two teams met in Memphis, the Tigers lost in the final set by three points and the Shockers won the match 3-2.
Head coach Sean Burdette looks back at his assistants to call a play for his team. Burdette is in his second season at Memphis and has led his team to a winning record so far this season.
Sabrina Bianco waits for the referee to blow the whistle so she can serve the ball. She recorded 23 digs in the match, which was a career high.
Memphis volleyball huddles up after earning a point. The team lost to SMU by a score of 3-1.
