Conference play is officially underway for the Temple Owls volleyball team, and it couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. The Owls are the only team in the American Athletic Conference currently still undefeated in conference play, after winning both of their matches in Florida, against the University of South Florida and the University of Central Florida, completing sweeps against both teams.
They continued their win streak and sweep streak against Memphis. The Owls were coming off of some momentum heading into Fridays match. The Memphis Tigers came into the evening 10-5 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
Temple came out leading the hitting percentage in the first set .490 to .105 putting themselves up 14-10 and forcing a Memphis timeout. The Tigers would also have to regroup later in the set after six attack errors. The Tigers were unable to bounce back in this set, and lost 25-16.
The Owls blocks were a factor throughout the match but especially in the first set. Janine Simpson led the Owls with five, and three other Temple teammates had two blocks. Memphis had trouble with blocks, and a lot of close Temple balls slipped through their arms. The Owls led the match in blocks 7.5-4.
Temple also led Memphis in hitting percentage at the end of the match, .365-.212.
Kirsten Overton had 13 kills, and many of those were assisted by Sandra Sydlik, who had 41 assists on the match.
This win is the third straight for Temple as they continue conference play. They entered Friday evening as the only undefeated team in the American Conference, and they remain as just that, now standing at 3-0 in conference play and 12-3 overall.
Temple’s next game is Sunday afternoon at 1 P.M. (home) against Cincinnati (9-4), where they continue their conference play and look to stay undefeated and win their fourth straight match.
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