Volleyball Aims To Get Back On Track Against Nicholls State
Oct 29, 2001 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 29, 2001
NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Tulane University volleyball team will look to get back on the winning track Tuesday evening when the Green Wave plays host to in-state foe Nicholls State at 7 p.m. in Fogelman Arena.
Tulane, 14-10 overall and 6-6 in Conference USA play, has dropped its last three matches, and is coming off a rough weekend where the Green Wave dropped 3-0 matches to league foes Cincinnati and Louisville on the road. The Green Wave, however, has played well in the friendly confines of Fogelman Arena where the team sports a 10-5 record, including wins in 10 of their last 12 contests played in the on-campus facility.
"We're hungry for a win right now," head coach Betsy Becker said. "I think as long as we play the game the way we're capable of playing it, things will take care of themselves. We've played some tough games against some really good teams, we've learned from our mistakes and I think that will translate into good things against Nicholls State.
"On the flip side, however, we've got to realize that we're a target for Nicholls State. They're no doubt going to bring their A-plus game against us, and we've got to be ready to play. With that knowledge, coupled with the execution of our game plan, I think we'll get results that we like."
Junior outside hitter Britney Hurst leads Tulane and ranks fifth in Conference USA with 4.68 kills per game, while chipping in 3.37 digs per contest and 30 service aces. Fellow outside hitter, redshirt-freshman Anastasia Kenon, paces the Green Wave and ranks second in the league with 3.57 digs per game while ranking second on team with 3.94 kills per outing.
Five Tulane players have more than 40 blocks on the season, including a team-best 87 by freshman middle hitter Deva Fowler. Senior middle hitter/right-side hitter Erin Dobyanski is close behind with 82 as Tulane averages 2.51 blocks per game which ranks third in the conference.
Freshman setter Katie Case has been setting the table for the Green Wave offense, averaging 11.82 assists per game which ranks sixth in Conference USA and tops among league rookies. Case also has been solid defensively with 2.09 digs per game and 26 total blocks.
Nicholls State, meanwhile, enters Tuesday's match 5-15 overall and 5-10 in Southland Conference play. Outside hitter Shanda Johnson paces the Lady Colonels with 3.63 kills per game, and outside hitter/defensive specialist Jenn Blair spearheads the NSU defense with 2.94 digs per game.
As a team, Nicholls State is hitting at a .123 clip with 931 kills and 572 errors in 2,918 attempts. The Lady Colonel defense, meanwhile, has been allowing opponents to hit at a .235 mark with 1,062 kills and 421 errors in 2,730 attempts.
Tuesday's match against the Lady Colonels will be the first of a three-match homestand for the Green Wave as Tulane will play host to Conference USA foes TCU and Houston on Friday and Saturday, respectively, in Fogelman Arena. Both contests are slated to begin at 7 p.m., and Tulane will honor seniors Dobyanski and Jennifer Witte before the Houston match on Saturday.
