CARBONDALE, Ill. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Despite 11 kills from senior Abbey Gitter (Hortonville, Wis.), the Green Bay volleyball team was unable to pull out close sets and dropped a 3-0 decision (25-22, 27-25, 25-22) to Memphis (6-2) on Friday night in the opening match of the Saluki Invitational.

Green Bay (2-6) fell behind big the in the opening set, trailing 8-2 early and 14-7 midway through the set. However, the Phoenix rallied to take the lead 21-20 on a kill from sophomore Lyndsay Zabkowicz (Oak Creek, Wis.). Memphis scored five of the final six points to take the 1-0 lead.

The Phoenix was in control for most of the second set after jumping out to an early 10-5 lead on a kill from sophomore setter Leah Poel (Jenison, Mich.). Poel, coming off an all-tournament performance last weekend in North Dakota, tallied 30 assists, nine digs and six kills (.600 hitting percentage) for the Phoenix.

Green Bay led the second set until 22-22 and did not trail until the Tigers took a 25-24 lead late. With the score tied at 25, a service error and a block error by the Phoenix gave Memphis the set.

In set three, the Phoenix trailed for most of the action, but rallied with five straight points to take a 21-20 lead on a Gitter kill. However, Memphis scored five of the last six points again to end the match.

Gitter led the team with 11 kills while Zabkowicz added seven for the Green Bay offense. Junior Brittany Groth libero (Oak Creek, Wis.) posted a team-high 15 digs.

Green Bay will play two matches on Saturday, beginning with a contest against tourney host Southern Illinois at 1 p.m. The Phoenix will then face Murray State at 5 p.m.

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