Tulane University
Coastal Carolina
Volleyball Overcomes Slow Start To Sweep Coastal Carolina
Sep 7, 2001 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 7, 2001
NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Tulane University volleyball started slow but finished strong as the Green Wave defeated Coastal Carolina in a three-game sweep, 30-23, 30-22, 30-12, Friday afternoon at the Kathy Trosclair Memorial Invitational in Fogelman Arena.
Junior outside hitter Britney Hurst (Baton Rouge, La.), freshman outside hitter Anastasia Kenon (San Antonio, Texas) and freshman middle hitter Deva Fowler (San Diego, Calif.) each finished with double-digit kill totals as the Green Wave improved to 3-3 on the year.
"We started off a little slow, but we settled into a level where we need to play at all the time," head coach Betsy Becker said. "Britney Hurst again played a stellar match, and Deva Fowler is starting to get her game together, and that will be a key for us down the stretch."
It was a back-and-forth battle in game one, and Tulane led 19-18 midway through the stanza. But the Green Wave ran off four straight points and seven of the next eight points scored to distances themselves from the scrappy Chanticleers en route to the win.
Coastal Carolina started off red hot in the second game, racing out to an 8-3 lead. The Green Wave did not back down, however, and fought back to tie the game at 14-14 and again at 17-all. From there, Tulane went on a four-point run and finished strong to take a two-game lead.
Game three was all Green Wave as Tulane hit .500 (14 kills, 0 errors, 28 attempts) in the match-deciding frame. Tulane scored the first two points of the stanza, ran out to a commanding 20-9 lead and never really looked back.
"Once we got into our rhythm, we stayed in our rhythm and didn't have any more lulls," Becker said. "We can't afford to do that against any team, and we feel fortunate to come away from this one with a win. I'm proud of the players for all of their hard work and for their unselfish play. We've got a theme - we want to play like the Sea of Galilee and not the Dead Sea.
"We're at 3-3 right now, and now we've got to work our way up. Tonight against SMU, we need to start off the match intense and build on that intensity because they're a very talented club."
Hurst led all players with 16 kills, followed by Kenon with 15 and Fowler with 11. Kenon recorded her third double-double of the year, chipping in 14 digs, and freshman setter Katie Case had another impressive effort with six kills in eight attempts, six digs and a match-high 40 assists.
Sarah Bennett led Coastal Carolina with 11 kills, while Carly Draudt and Lauren Wozniak tied for team-high dig honors with 10 each.
The Green Wave returns to action later tonight when they take on the Mustangs of Southern Methodist at 7 p.m.
