Volleyball Has Something To Prove In Conference USA Weekend
Oct 18, 2001 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 18, 2001
NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Tulane University volleyball team will look to prove it belongs among the top teams in Conference USA when the Green Wave plays host to league foe Marquette and DePaul on Friday and Saturday, respectively, as Tulane hosts its annual "Parents' Weekend" in Fogelman Arena.
Both matches are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., and the Green Wave will recognize the player's parents before Saturday's contest against the Blue Devils.
DePaul and Marquette have consistently been among the top teams in Conference USA, and both come down to the Big Easy with winning records. Marquette comes into Friday's match 11-7 on the year, including a 4-3 mark in league play. The Blue Demons, meanwhile, roll into town tied for third in the league with a 5-2 conference mark and an impressive 14-4 overall record.
"We look at this weekend as an opportunity to show that we have come into our own," head coach Betsy Becker said. "We've played a lot of younger players throughout the season, including freshman starters Anastasia Kenon, Katie Case and Deva Fowler, and we have learned a lot about the chemistry and determination of this team.
"Marquette and DePaul are very similar in their style of play. They both run fast offenses and spread their attack well to keep you off balance. But we feel that our players are more athletic, and we'll have to use our athleticism and quickness to disrupt their attack and continue to let our best offense be our defense."
The Green Wave, 13-7 on the year and 5-3 in C-USA play, will look to snap a two-match conference losing skid after dropping a pair of hard-fought league contests last weekend at Saint Louis and Memphis. Tulane bounced back in its last outing, however, defeating cross-town rival UNO, 3-1, at the Lakefront Arena.
"We have something to prove against Marquette and DePaul," Becker said. "We dropped a couple of really tough conference matches last weekend on the road at Saint Louis and Memphis, and this is a prime opportunity to not only make up for those losses, but also prove that we can compete with the top-level teams in Conference USA."
This weekend's action will be the Green Wave's first time playing in the friendly confines of Fogelman Arena since back on Sept. 29 when Tulane defeated Charlotte in straight games. Since then, Tulane has played five-straight contests on the road and came away with a 3-2 mark in those matches. Both losses came last weekend, and Becker felt that the home crowd was the difference.
"I told the team today at practice that no one should come into your house and steal something from you," Becker said. "We've got to take advantage of being at home. We've had some good crowds earlier in the year, and that is a big factor when your home crowd gets behind you and shows support for the team."
As a team, Tulane leads Conference USA in opponent attack percentage, holding its foes to a .166 clip (1,023 kills, 522 errors, 3,021 attempts) and in blocks with a 2.42 average. The offense, meanwhile ranks fourth in kills with 15.51 per game and fifth in attack percentage with a .235 mark (1,132-432-2,978).
Kenon leads the team's defensive efforts and ranks third in the conference with 3.57 digs per game, and Hurst is close behind with 3.37 digs per contest, ranking seventh in the league. Hurst paces the Green Wave attack with 4.70 kills per game, which ranks fourth in C-USA, while Kenon second on the club and ninth in the league with 3.80 kills per outing.
After this weekend's home matches, the Green Wave will take its show back on the road for an Oct. 25 showdown at Cincinnati and an Oct. 27 match-up with league-leading Louisville. Tulane's next home match is slated for Tuesday, Oct. 30, when the Green Wave play host to in-state foe Nicholls State at 7 p.m. in Fogelman Arena.
