Next Up: Volleyball to Host C-USA Leader Tulsa
Nov 4, 2011 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 4, 2011
Season Statistics | Conference USA Weekly Release
11/5/11 & 11/6/11
Tulane Green Wave Hosts Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Start Times: 1:00 (Saturday), 1:00 (Sunday)
Vs. Tulsa: Tulane Leads 10-6
Looking at the Green Wave
A pair of five-set matches tested the Green Wave last weekend, with the team grabbing a 3-2 decision at East Carolina before falling in five at Marshall. This weekend, Tulane will host Conference USA leading Tulsa in single matches on Saturday and Sunday. Tulane brings a 9-15 overall mark and 4-9 league ledger into this weekend's matches.
Cori Martone was the do-it-all performer for the Green Wave last weekend, leading the team in kills and digs. The sophomore moved from middle blocker to outside hitter against Southern Miss on Wednesday, October 19, and has posted 100 kills in her last five matches. Over the weekend, Martone boasted 55 kills - the most by any C-USA player - and compiled a .293 attacking percentage. She posted double-doubles in both matches, boasting 26 kills and 21 digs at ECU and 29 kills and 11 digs at Marshall. Her kill total at Marshall set a career-high, helping her post the first 30-point match for Tulane since 2009, while her digs total at East Carolina was a career-best, as well.
In another recent move, Mel Mandelbaum has been the primary setter for the Green Wave, as TU has moved to a five-one system. Over the weekend, Mandelbaum handed out 95 assists - 53 of which came at ECU - and she set a career-high with seven points versus Marshall. She has moved into eighth on the all-time assists charts with 1,545 and is closing in on the seventh spot. The sophomore is just 195 helpers away from Cappy Meyer's 1,740 from 1994-95.
Tulane has five players that rank among the Conference USA top-ten entering the weekend. Martone is among the top-ten in kills per-set (6th, 3.32) and points per-set (6th, 3.98), while sitting 18th in the conference in hitting percentage (.251). Anna Wruck averages 1.04 blocks per-set and Nikki Osuna is chipping in 4.41 digs per-set, with both sitting eighth in their respective categories. Grace Weaver is ninth in service aces per-set (0.26) and Mandelbaum is tenth in assists per-set (6.22).
Scouting the Golden Hurricane
Tulsa is atop the Conference USA standing entering the weekend and has reeled off eight straight victories since being toppled by SMU. The Golden Hurricane is 21-5 overall, 12-1 in C-USA play, and has played just three matches that have gone five sets. They lead Conference USA in hitting percentage, assists and kills, while ranking second in service ace and fifth in digs as a team. Entering conference play at 9-4, Tulsa has continued their dominance in the C-USA this season and is 32-1 in conference matches over the past two years.
Leading the attack is Tyler Henderson, the defending Conference USA Player of the Year, who leads C-USA in kills per-set (4.80) and points per-set (5.10). The junior also ranks fourth in hitting percentage and has added 52 digs and 35 blocks this season. The Clampitt sisters are in control of the offense at all times during the match, as the setters have dished out nearly every TU assist this season. Jordan, a junior, has 749 assists, while Bailey, a freshman, enters the weekend with 387.
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