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Tigers Storm Back in Five-Set Win Over Temple

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – In yet another come from behind performance, the Memphis Tigers (12-14, 5-9) made it a perfect 2-0 week with a five-set victory over the Temple Owls (5-19, 1-12). The Tigers rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 set deficits and dominated in the final set to pick up their second win over Temple this season and first in Philadelphia over the Owls since 2014.

Memphis 3, Temple 2
23-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-20, 15-8

Set 1

  • A pair of kills by Elizabeth Orf propelled Memphis to an early 6-2 lead
  • Temple's extended 10-4 run put the Owls in front 12-10
  • The Owls struck for six of the first seven points out of the media timeout to lead 19-16
  • Memphis drew even 21-21, which forced Temple into a timeout, but the Owls followed with a 4-2 run to take the set

Set 2

  • Neither side led by more than two until Gigi Crescenzo sparked a 6-0 Memphis run with a kill and three aces that put the Tigers in front 13-9
  • Temple got within three at 15-12 but never closer
  • Orf had three blocks in the set after Memphis didn't record a single block in the opening set

Set 3

  • Memphis won the race to 15 for the third straight set (15-14)
  • Each team followed with a 3-0 run, the Owls and then the Tigers
  • Memphis tied the set 20-20 on a kill by Miaya Smith, but two quick points put the Owls in control for good

Set 4

  • Each team led by three early, but the set was tied 15-15
  • A pair of kills by Orf ignited a 4-0 Memphis run to lead 18-15 and put the Tigers in front for good
  • Temple pulled within one at 18-17, but the Tigers answered with four straight, which included two kills by Crescenzo

Set 5

  • After a back-and-forth opening to the set, Memphis took the lead for good 6-5 on a block from Orf and Kate Bass
  • The Tigers used a 4-0 run between a pair of Temple timeouts to lead 11-6
  • Memphis used a timeout after a brief two-point spurt from Temple and then scored the final four points of the match
  • The final set was the only set of the night without a lead change

NOTABLES

  • Sabrina Bianco (47 assists, 20 digs) and Tabytha Toelke (14 kills, 16 digs) each notched their fourth straight double-double while Gigi Crescenzo (14 kills, 10 digs) added her fifth double-double of the season
  • Bianco now has 12 double-doubles on the year while Toelke has six
  • Crescenzo's 14 kills were a season-high, while her three aces matched her career-high
  • With 12 kills, Miaya Smith tallied her third straight double-digit kill performance and her 14th of the season

UP NEXT

  • Memphis will remain on the road with a trip south for matches Thursday against UCF and Saturday against USF
  • The Tigers will conclude their home campaign with matches vs.