Trojans Out Block Tigers but Fall to Memphis in Weekend Finale

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis may have claimed the win over Little Rock Saturday afternoon in the last match of the Bluff City Showdown, but it wasn't without plenty of stress for the Tigers. And they were relieved to see Little Rock's Gabrielle Spankus leave their building.
 
Spankus, a true freshman for the Trojans, was seemingly all over the court in the 3-0 loss to Memphis with career highs in kills (7), hitting percentage (.211) and blocks (3). Set scores in the match were 25-17, 25-17 and 25-21.
 
Her three block assists were part of a 10-9 blocking advantage for Little Rock (3-9). At one point in the first set, Spankus scored four consecutive points with three straight kills then assisting on a block as part of a 6-0 Little Rock run that forced a Memphis timeout partway through the run.
 
Zanobia Willis matched her career-high in blocking, assisting on nine of Little Rock's 10 total blocks while adding five kills. Makaila Harris added eight kills and 11 digs while Livia Kimura led the Trojans with 16 digs.
 
But the Tigers (10-3) claimed their sixth consecutive win despite the Trojans holding them to a .150 hitting percentage, utilizing six aces and 36 total kills to get past Little Rock.
 
Little Rock refused to concede any set, including a third set where the Trojans mounted a 7-0 run late to pull within one at 21-20 and to force a Tigers timeout.
 
Memphis was led by Jasmyn Tate's 13 kills and .478 hitting percentage but she was the only Tiger to hit above .200. Kate Bass tallied six total blocks.
 
Little Rock now returns to the Capital City to prepare for its home opener as well as the program's first-ever Ohio Valley Conference match. The Trojans will host UT Martin next weekend with first serve on Friday, Sept. 23 set for 6 p.m. The first 100 fans at the Jack Stephens Center will receive a 2022 schedule poster. Little Rock and the Skyhawks will face each other again the following day, Sept. 24, in the Trojans' Pride Weekend match with first serve set for 4 p.m.
 
For the latest information on Little Rock Volleyball, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockVB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
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