Temple University Athletics
Temple University
11-4, 2-1
Memphis
9-7, 1-2
Temple Volleyball Sweeps Memphis in American Athletic Conference Home Opener
10.4.13 | Women's Volleyball
PHILADELPHIA - In front of a lively crowd at their American Athletic Conference home opener, the Temple volleyball team swept visiting Memphis, 3-0, by scores of 25-20, 25-20 and 25-21. The match is the only one of the week for Temple, and the first in a five-match homestand.
Senior Elyse Burkert had 11 kills and nine digs to lead the Owls (11-4, 2-1 American), while freshman Caroline Grattan knocked down 10 kills. Sophomore setter Sandra Sydlik put up a double-double for Temple with 36 assists and 15 digs.
Sophomore Alyssa Drachslin led the Owls and all players with 21 digs, and freshman Kirsten Overton was impressive with seven kills, two blocks and only a single error.
Memphis (9-7, 1-2 American) was led by Catlin Killy with 12 kills and Aleksandra Petronijevic with 20 digs.
"We out-hit Memphis in every set, which was really good to see," said Temple head coach Bakeer Ganes. "We hit well as a team for the entire match which is a huge improvement for us, and we spread out the offense really well. I think our blocking helped us as well. Even though we didn't block too many people straight down, we touched a lot of balls and that's what we need to do."
Temple had a strong crowd of around 300 for the conference home opener, and both Ganes and senior Gabriella Matautia talked about how big that was for the team.
"The atmosphwere was great," said Ganes. "It was not just a match, it was a production. We had the cheerleaders, the dancers, Hooter was here, the crowd was amazing. This is what we want to give to the players, to show them we can do this, but also we want to do a good job for the people who are here. It makes a difference. It motivates the players and it's a great thing for everybody."
"It was amazing," said Matautia. "With a club team on one side and Cherry Crusade on the other and all the student-athletes...they were nice and loud and supportive and we really think it contributed to the game. It's awesome to have everybody come out and get into it. It makes it more exciting and it really does help."
The well-spread offense was evident after a first set that saw four Temple players with two kills and a fifth player with three. The Owls led from 3-2 on, at one point by as many as seven.
Burkert was particularly strong in the second set with six kills, as was Grattan with four, and neither player committed an error. Grattan, who had put down the set-winning kill in the first set, did so again in the second.
Four players knocked down three kills apiece for the Owls in the third set, which was the closest of the night with 10 ties. Temple led by just two at 22-20, but got kills from Matautia, Burkert and Overton in a 3-1 run to end the set and the match.
Temple will be back in action at home next Friday, Oct. 11 in its Dig Pink match to support breast cancer, facing Houston at 7:00 p.m.
