Tulane University
Houston (C-USA Tourn)
![Freshman right-side hitter Bridget Wells had 11 kills in Saturday's Conference USA Tournament semifinal match vs. Houston. [File photo by Kat Stock.]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Ftulanegreenwave.com%2Fimages%2F2005%2F11%2F19%2F356999.jpeg&height=300&type=webp)
Cinderella Run Ends For Volleyball In C-USA Semifinals
Nov 19, 2005 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 19, 2005
HOUSTON, Texas - In the Tulane University volleyball team's Cinderella run through the 2005 Conference USA Tournament, the clock finally struck midnight.
Freshmen hitters Bridget Wells and Sara Radosevic posted 11 kills each, and the combination of rookie middle blockers Lauren Boatwright and Jen Linder teamed to post nine kills and six blocks, but it was not enough as the Green Wave dropped a 3-0 decision to second-seeded Houston in the conference semifinals Saturday night at Autry Court on the campus of Rice University.
With the loss, Tulane concludes the 2005 season at 5-16. Houston, meanwhile, improves to 18-11 on the year and advances to play top-seeded Marshall in the championship game on Sunday at 4 p.m. The C-USA Championship match will be televised live on CSTV.
"There is only one team that gets to end the season with a win, but that does not mean ours did not end on a high note," first-year Tulane head coach Liz Kritza said. "Our showing in the conference tournament was the high point of a very difficult season and it bodes well for the future of the program. We had the two players on the all-conference team, the conference Freshman of the Year, two girls on the All-Freshman Team and made it to the semifinals of the conference tournament.
"We knew coming into the year that there would be a learning curve with so many young players, but when you add the hurricane and the relocation to College Station, it made that much harder. Our girls persevered through it all, and we will all be stronger because of it. I am proud of their effort not only tonight and in this tournament, but throughout the year. They learned a lot not only about the game of volleyball, but about the game of life and how important character and diligence are in everything you do."
Senior libero Kelli Dickson, who earned third-team All C-USA honors earlier in the week, led Tulane with 13 digs while rookie setter Luna Rebrovic, a member of the 2005 C-USA All-Freshman Team, paced the club with 33 assists.
Even though the Green Wave will not be participating in Sunday's championship match, Tulane did leave a permanent mark on the tournament with a handful of records. As a team, the Green Wave tied a tournament single-match mark with 15 service aces on Thursday against Rice. Radosevic set the overall tourney record with 11 aces in the three matches to help the team tally 31 aces, which eclipses the former mark of 23 set by USF in 2002. In addition, Boatwright had five solo stuffs against Rice to set the single-match solo blocking record.
The Green Wave got off to a rough start in game one, falling behind 8-3. The Cougar attack connected at a .350 clip while holding Tulane to a .102 mark. Tulane matched Houston point-for-point in the middle portion of the contest, but the Cougars did not let up and cruised to a 10-point win.
The two teams traded the first 12 points of the second stanza, but Houston took the lead soon thereafter and never looked back. Tulane kept it a tight game for most of the way, but with the Cougars leading 18-16, Houston used a 10-3 rally to take a commanding 28-19 lead and went on to win by eight.
Tulane fell behind 8-3 in game three, and it remained a five-point game all the way until 15-10. Tulane answered with a 7-2 run to tie the game at 17-all, but 9-4 rally to claim a 26-21 lead and force the Green Wave to call their final timeout of the frame. Tulane scored the first point after the break, but Houston was able to sustain its lead and complete the sweep.
Houston had three players post double-digit kill totals and were led by Justine Farmer with 15. Kariny Ritter was next for the Cougars with 14 kills and Becca Sartori posted 10. C-USA Defensive Player of the Year Jaci Gonzalez had a match-best 19 digs for Houston while setter Jennifer Hohl posted a double-double with 49 assists and 12 digs.
