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Tulsa
UTEP (C-USA)
Tulsa Takes UTEP in Five-Game Thiller
10/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 14, 2005
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Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Tulsa volleyball team over came a sloppy start and used a school record for a thrilling 3-2 (30-28, 31-29, 30-32, 27-30, 15-12) victory over UTEP on Friday. The Conference USA victory improved TU's record to 16-3 overall and 3-2 in league play. UTEP falls to 13-6 (3-3 C-USA).
The Hurricane posted 23 kills in the first game of the night and needed everyone, as the game saw 10 ties and three lead changes. Five different TU players recorded a kill in the stanza, led by sophomore Kassiana Urnau's seven.
Neither team could finish the other, as the largest lead was four points. UTEP was up 20-16 after a kill by Christie Murphy. The Miners also went up 27-23 after TU's 13th attack error in the opening game. However a bad set by UTEP ignited a six point run by the Hurricane to regain the lead 29-27.
The second game did not start well for TU, as UTEP took a 4-0 lead on three TU hitting errors and a setting error. A kill from junior Germana Hilario jump started TU to a five-point run. Using four kills and a service ace, Tulsa took the lead at 5-4.
UTEP again took advantage of TU errors for another run, using five Hurricane errors and a trio of kills for a 12-5 lead. A kill by Urnau ended the run for TU. Tulsa could not seem to get over the hump, as UTEP maintained a three or four-point lead for much of the game. As in the first game, TU again found itself down 20-16. Hilario started the TU rally this time, with a kill. Three kills, a setting error and service ace later, TU owned a 22-20 lead.
With the game tied 29-29, TU freshman Renee Brooks chose to post her first kill of the match. Urnau followed with the game-winning kill to put Tulsa up 2-0 heading into the break.
Tulsa had only lost the third game three times in its first 18 matches, all losses. The third stanza started much like the first two. A pair of TU errors and a UTEP kill, gave the Miners a 3-0 lead. UTEP was able to push the lead to 7-3. However, TU went on a 7-3 run of its own to tie the score at 10-10. Both teams continued to score in bunches as TU went up 13-10, before UTEP tied the game again at 14-14. The game would be tied again a 28-28 on a service ace by senior Dana Weddle. Tied again at 30-30, UTEP received a pair of kills from Heather Brisnahan to take the game.
UTEP again took a 4-0 lead in the fourth stanza, however, this time the Miners earned it by recording three kills and forcing a TU error. Tulsa again made another incredible run, erasing a six-point deficit, to tie the game at 18-18 and taking a 20-18 lead. Tulsa appeared to be on the way to its second C-USA sweep, building a 25-21 lead on a kill by Urnau.
The Miners did not role over however. Down 27-24, UTEP rallied to tie the game 27-27 and used three TU hitting errors to tie the match at 2-2.
Not able to score first in the first four games, the fifth game was no different for TU. The Miners quickly went up 2-0. Junior Amy Meyer sparked a TU 7-1 run with a kill, for a 7-3 Hurricane lead. This time, the Hurricane would not relinquish the lead even though the Miners rallied to cut the lead to 14-12 on a kill by Keisha Hyman-Gifth. Meyer sealed the match for TU with her 16th kill of the match.
Sophomore Julia Silva posted 72 assists in the contest, the third most in school history, to go along with 23 digs for her ninth double-double of the year. Urnau led all hitters with 26 kills, as she was one of four Hurricane players to post double-figure kills. In addition to Urnau and Meyer, senior Dana Weddle and Hilario recorded 17 and 18 kills, respectively.
Senior Evyn Wills added to her record-setting final year as she recorded a school record 38 digs in contest. Earlier in this season, the Tulsa native became the first TU player to eclipse the 1,300-dig mark for the most career digs in school history.
Urnau also posted a double-double with 15 digs, marking the ninth time she recorded a double-double. Meyer recorded her fourth double-double of the year with 17 digs.
Tulsa returns to C-USA action on Sunday, by hosting Tulane at the Reynolds Center at 2 p.m.
