Tulane University
SMU
Four Set Decision Gives Volleyball First C-USA Win
Oct 8, 2011 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 8, 2011
Box Score (PDF) | Season Statistics (PDF)
NEW ORLEANS - It was a matter of not making mistakes for the Tulane volleyball team on Saturday afternoon at the Moody Coliseum, with the Green Wave taking advantage of SMU's mistakes in their four-set victory. It was a matter of closing out each set for the Olive and Blue, which they did in the final three frames, and making each possession count.
"Today was a good day for us," said Tulane head coach Sinisa Momic. "Mentally we were a more mature team than we have been lately, even though we let set one get away from us. We missed our practice yesterday due to flight delays and it really showed in set one. We talked to the team about fighting for each point and not looking at the scoreboard and I think that really helped us mentally. We were steadier today. We didn't make the mistakes when it mattered, which showed in (sets) two and four. They were both close, but we were able close. In the end we didn't panic and managed to side-out or score points when it mattered."
The first set was tightly contested in the early going, with Tulane (6-10, 1-4 C-USA) grabbing a 9-8 lead on an Izabela Grot kill. The two teams traded errors, which gave TU a 10-9 advantage, but SMU's offense controlled the rest of the opening stanza. The Mustangs closed the first set on a 16-4 run and grabbed the early momentum in the contest.
After SMU (6-12, 2-4 C-USA) staked themselves to a 5-1 lead to open the second set, Tulane responded with an 8-1 run, keyed by three kills from Olivia Utt, to grab a 9-6 lead. The Green Wave would never relinquish that lead and the Mustangs would get no closer than two points the remainder of the frame. Grot and Utt each tallied four kills in the second set, with the Green Wave committing just five attacking errors on their way to a .289 hitting percentage.
The third set was much like the second, with SMU getting out to an early 7-4 lead and Tulane putting together an 8-0 run, taking the lead for good. The trio of Azarri Badawi, Cori Martone and Grot each supplied four kills in the third set and, as a team, Tulane committed just four attacking errors to accumulate a .333 attacking percentage.
The fourth set was played within a few points each way and including 11 tied and eight lead changes. The Green Wave led by four points, twice, in the set and were ahead 20-16 before the SMU rallied to tie the set at 20. Tulane responded by scoring five of the final seven points, including kills from Badawi, Utt and Weaver, along with a service ace from Martone, to snap their four match losing streak.
"Izabela (Grot) hit for a good percentage today and that was a big difference," said Momic. "When she can be that efficient it really opens up offense for other players. Olivia (Utt) got a start today and she had a good match, too. Right now we just have to believe. We have to stay confident and bring that type of effort again tomorrow and build on this (win)."
Badawi led the way a double-double of 11 kills and 12 digs, while Grot chipped in 11 kills. The freshman duo of Utt and Weaver each tallied eight kills and fellow rookie Anna Wruck had seven kills and a pair of blocks. Mel Mandelbaum also collected a double-double of 27 assists and 13 digs, while Nikki Osuna led the team with 19 digs from the libero position.
Tulane will play SMU on Sunday, October 9 starting at 2:00 for their final meeting of the season with the Mustangs.
Single game tickets for the remainder of the 2011 home slate are on sale now and can be purchased by contacting the Tulane Ticket Office at 504-861-WAVE or visiting the Tulane Team Shop inside the James Wilson, Jr. Center between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
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