Frogs complete tournament championship with sweep of Maine
9/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 1, 2007
ORONO, Maine (Sept. 1, 2007) - The TCU Horned Frogs swept Maine (30-22, 30-26, 30-17) to complete a perfect tournament run and earn their first tournament championship of the season. LeMeita Smith led the Frogs offensive charge with 11 kills, while Corley paced the team defensively with 18 digs.
Maine jumped out to an early lead in game one, 6-3, but the Frogs had an answer with a 4-0 rally to take a lead they would never relinquish the rest of the set. Nirelle Hampton had a kill and an ace in that stretch. Maine briefly tied the game, but the Frogs went on a 5-0 run spurred by back-to-back aces from Lauren Otto.
The Black Bears climbed back into the match at 15-14 with a 7-3 run, but three straight errors by Maine gave the Frogs a comfortable four-point cushion. The lead continued to grow as Kourtney Edwards, Devon Kirk and Hampton all dropped in kills to extend the lead out to 21-15.
A side-out battle ensued as the score climbed to 25-21, before the Frogs went on a 5-1 run to close out the match. Hampton led the Frogs with four kills in the set.
Again, in game two the Black Bears stormed out to the early lead, taking a 7-3 lead. TCU weathered the storm and eventually got the score knotted at 10 on kills from LeMeita Smith and Edwards. Maine briefly regained the lead, 12-11, but Hampton squashed the rally with a loud kill and Kirk gave the Frogs the lead with a solo block in the middle.
A 5-0 run spurred by a Maine service error put some distance between the teams as TCU gained an 18-13 lead. The run was capped by an Otto/Kirk stuff on the outside. The Frogs withstood a late run by the Black Bears and a Edwards/Hampton denial sealed the Frogs game two victory, 30-26.
Smith was the hitting star of the set with six kills as the Frogs pounded out 17 in the game. Calli Corley pitched in defensively with seven digs.
The Frogs raced away with game three, winning in convincing fashion, 30-17. A Kirk kill got the Frogs off on the right foot, opening up a 15-5 run by the Frogs. Katelyn Blackwood rolled four points on her serve, helped along by three Black Bear errors.
Another big run by the Frogs behind the serve of Corley helped the Frogs open up the 10-point advantage. Irene Hester pitched in three kills in that stretch. Maine went on brief 4-1 run, but a Kirk blast killed the rally and the Frogs sailed from there.
Hester served the Frogs to a 20-9 lead and TCU withstood a late Maine rally to take the game. A Kirk solo block in the middle gave the Frogs the match victory.
TCU improves to 5-1 on the young season. The Frogs will open up the home portion of their schedule Wednesday night against cross town rival, UT-Arlington. Match time is slated for 7 p.m.
