Box Score MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Freshman
Ainsley Yanz posted the first double-digit dig performance of her career in LA Tech's 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-15) loss to the Memphis Tigers in Friday Night's matchup in the Larry O. Finch Center.
The Lady Techsters started slow out of the gate, allowing Memphis to jump out to a 15-6 lead early in the first set. Memphis freshman Sam Drewry paced the Tigers for the third straight game in kills with a team-high nine in Friday's match.
"We have to find a way to start games strong," head coach
Amber McCray said. "We are giving teams a ton of confidence early and having to dig ourselves out of huge holes.
"There's a lot of season left, and we will keep working to find our groove and the right combination to put ourselves in position to win matches."
LA Tech jumped out to an 8-7 lead in the second set behind a kill from senior
Emily Boylan. The Lady Techsters held two leads in the second set, but they were unable to slow down the Tigers late as Memphis used a 12-5 run to turn a 9-9 tie into a 21-14 lead. Senior Marie Helene-Verlinden and freshman
Morgan Smith paced the Lady Techsters with two kills apiece in the second set.
The Lady Techsters grabbed two early leads in the third set, using a kill from sophomore
Laura Ehieze to snag a 6-5 lead in the final stanza. The Tigers, however, once again used a timely run with four straight points to expand their lead from 10-9 to 14-9 in the third set. Memphis' Addyson Huber recorded a kill on match point to secure the win for the Tigers.
Yanz recorded 12 digs after earning the start as the team's primary libero. Smith led the Lady Techsters with four kills for the match.
LA Tech will close out its weekend road trip to Memphis with a 3 p.m. matchup against the Tigers on Saturday. Saturday's match in the Larry O. Finch Center will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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