Tulsa
Ilinois
Volleyball Pushes Illinois, but Falls, 3-2
9/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 10, 2011
Box Score |
Box Score 
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Tulsa took the first two sets against No. 4 Illinois, but could not hang on, as the Illini won a thriller, 3-2 (25-20, 25-20, 24-26, 18-25, 11-15), Saturday night in the Middle Tennessee Invitational at Alumni Memorial Gym.
Tyler Henderson slammed 33 kills, hitting .377, while TU's middle blockers, Carly Boatwright and Miriele Gobbo combined for 20 kills and just one error. The Golden Hurricane (6-4) went 2-1 on the weekend, dropping only the tournament championship to undefeated Illinois (9-0).
Both team hit well over .300, totaling more than 70 kills, 70 assists and 50 digs apiece. TU hit .320 (74-19-172) with 74 kills, 70 assists, five service aces, 54 digs and 4.0 blocks. Illinois hit .396 (76-15-154) with 76 kills, 75 assists, seven aces, 57 digs and 11.0 blocks.
Henderson was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament, while Kellie Culbertson, who had three double-doubles on the weekend, and Boatwright were named to the all-tournament team.
Culbertson had 12 kills and 14 digs in the tournament, and was one of four players to tally double-digit kills in the match. Boatwright, who made just one error and hit .474, and Gobbo, who made no errors and hit .714, each put up 10 kills.
Junior Jordan Clampitt also had a double-double, recording 42 assists and 13 digs, while freshman Bailey Clampitt put up 21 assists and five digs. Junior Jessica Adams recorded 11 digs.
Tulsa won the first two sets by five points, each, by scores of 25-20. The Hurricane found itself down seven points, 15-8, in the third set, but stormed back to tie the score, 24-24, before Illinois scored two points to win. The Illini won the final two frames to claim the match.
The Golden Hurricane returns to action next weekend when it travels to Chapel Hill, N.C., for the Tar Heel Invitational Friday and Saturday.
For all Tulsa volleyball news and information, visit www.TulsaHurricane.com. Follow Tulsa Athletics on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TulsaHurricane and Facebook at www.facebook.com/TulsaHurricane. Follow Tulsa Volleyball on twitter (www.twitter.com/TulsaVolleyball) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/TulsaVolleyball).
