Gedikoglu, Pardo Post Double-Doubles, as Tulsa Drops Opening Round Match to UCF at American Championship

Friday, November 22

Orlando, Fla.

2:30 p.m.

Tulsa

15-15,8-8AAC

UCF

22-7,14-2AAC

Tulsa

UCF

Photo by: Doug DeFelice

Gedikoglu, Pardo Post Double-Doubles, as Tulsa Drops Opening Round Match to UCF at American Championship

11/22/2019 6:16:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF)
ORLANDO, Fla. - Two Golden Hurricane recorded double-doubles at UCF, but the Tulsa volleyball team suffered its fourth consecutive loss on Friday with a four-set loss to the Knights [25-18, 25-10, 21-25, 25-18] in the first round of the inaugural 2019 American Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Championship at The Venue at UCF. Friday's contest marked the 21st meeting all-time between the two programs and the second of the season. Tulsa leads the all-time series 12-9, but has dropped six of the last seven contests to UCF.

The No. 6 seeded Golden Hurricane (15-15, 8-8 The American) would begin to rally from two sets down to the No. 3 seeded Knights (22-7, 14-2) in the third set. A lineup change ignited the Golden Hurricane, as they aimed to avoid another straight sets loss. Tulsa would benefit from a pair of scoring runs in the third game. Trailing 3-2, Maggie Hembree connected on her first of four kills in the frame, as a 7-0 run propelled the Golden Hurricane to a 9-3 advantage. Hembree finished the drive with two kills, while Taylor Horsfall and Hannah Overmyer had one kill apiece. Hembree and Mariah Brim would also combine for a stuff block.

Following three straight points for the Knights, the Golden Hurricane began their second scoring run of the set, as they tacked on six consecutive points for a 16-9 lead. Hembree registered her sixth service ace of the year. Callie Cook connected on a swing, and then went up for pair of blocks, with Overmyer and Brim each getting an assist.

UCF would cut the deficit to three on two occasions, but TU held on for the set win.

Tulsa carried the momentum into the fourth set, but the Knights kept up with the Golden Hurricane. Neither team led by more than two points until UCF scored five of six and took a 16-13 lead. This was the turning point in the set, as the Knights ultimately scored 11 of 14 points for a 22-15 advantage.

The two teams combined for 24 ties and nine lead changes. The first and fourth sets alone featured 16 ties and five lead changes.

The match also served as Tulsa's 17th four-set match of the season. The Golden Hurricane are now 9-8 in four sets, while a combined 6-7 in their other contests.

Gedikoglu, who was named Freshman of the Year in The American on Wednesday, paced the Golden Hurricane with a game-high 16 kills and had 14 digs for her 15th double-double of the season. Mariah Pardo came off the bench to add 14 assists and 13 digs for her sixth double-double of the campaign.

Overmyer also added double-figure kills. She ended with 10 kills, to go with seven digs. Rautio led all players with 23 assists.

Horsfall chipped a game-best 25 digs, as she climbed into second place in career digs at TU. The American's Libero of the Year entered the match needing just 12 digs to claim sole possession of second place. She finished the match with 2,388 career digs.

Tulsa will now wait and see if their season will continue, as they await word on a potential bid to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC). The Golden Hurricane secured a bid to the NIVC last season for their first postseason appearance since 2012.

Of the 64 teams that make up the NCAA Tournament, the next 32 teams, according to the NCAA's Rating Percentage Index (RPI), clinch a spot in the NIVC. Tulsa entered the week ranking 81st.

To keep up with the latest news on Tulsa volleyball, visit TulsaHurricane.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.