Subplots Surround Volleyball Team In Preparation For Southern
Nov 4, 2002 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 4, 2002
NEW ORLEANS, La. - When the Tulane University volleyball team travels to Baton Rouge Tuesday to play Southern University at 7:30 p.m., there are a number of subplots to the story that head coach Betsy Becker hopes unfolds, but by far, the most important one she hopes to achieve is to come away with a victory.
At 17-13 on the year, already one win better than last year's victory total, the Green Wave can assured themselves of their first back-to-back winning season's since the 1993-94 seasons with a win against the Jaguars. A victory on Tuesday will also help Tulane achieve its preseason goal of a 20-win season, something the Green Wave has not done since 1994.
"We hope to carry the momentum from this weekend into the match and get play well enough to get our 18th win of the year," head coach Betsy Becker said. "We'll play some different scenarios against Southern and will play a high-risk, high-reward type of match."
A final sidebar to the match is the return of outside hitter Britney Hurst to her home town where she and the Green Wave will likely have many fans. As a senior, Tuesday will be the last time the graduate of Southern Lab gets to play before her home crowd as a collegiate athlete.
"I'm always excited to play Southern because I get to go home," Hurst said. "I work out with some of their players in the summer time and it's become a friendly rivalry. This is a chance to show what I learned in the past four years. It's also a chance for some of my friends and family members who can't always travel to New Orleans to see my play. I just want to play my best and help the team win."
Hurst leads the team and Conference USA with 5.44 kills per game, and with 577 kills so far in 2002, Hurst is just 36 kills away from the Tulane single-season kills mark of 613 set by Regional All-American middle blocker Alicia Robertson in 1992. Hurst also ranks second on the team with 3.48 digs per game while adding 56 blocks, 28 service aces and 21 assists.
Sophomore middle blocker Deva Fowler is second on the team with 3.01 kills per game and paces the team with 1.16 blocks per game, including 31 solo stuffs. Fellow middle Kim Swafford, who averages 2.12 kills per game, is close behind Fowler with 1.03 blocks per outing.
Junior libero Karlyn Daly paces the Green Wave defense with 3.64 digs per game, followed by Hurst and junior right-side hitter Lauren Jones-McClain with a 2.52 dig-per-game average. Freshman setter Kelli Dickson is the Green Wave floor leader with 1,104 assists and is averaging 11.72 assists per game since becoming a starter.
Following the match at Southern, the Green Wave returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 9 when they take on Conference USA foe Southern Miss at 7 p.m. at Fogelman Arena.
