Tulane University
North Carolina State
Volleyball Drops 2 In Final Day Of Sugar Bowl Classic
Sep 12, 2015 | Women's Volleyball
Tulane/North Carolina State Box Score In PDF Format 
NEW ORLEANS - It was a day to grow on and learn from for the Tulane University volleyball team on Saturday in Devlin Fieldhouse as the Green Wave dropped a four-set match to North Carolina State and a three-set affair to TCU in final day of the 2015 Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Classic.
The Green Wave split the first two sets in the day-two opener against the Wolfpack, falling 25-19 and winning 27-25, before N.C. State won the next two by scores of 25-17 and 25-19. Tulane gave TCU everything it could handle and then some in the opening set of the nightcap before falling 28-26, and the Horned Frogs used its height and experience advantage over the next two frames to complete the sweep with wins of 25-17 and 25-14.
"We thought that in order to get the most we can out of this weekend, playing four matches -- including two tough teams today -- was the way to do that," Tulane head coach Sinisa Momic said. "We got two wins this weekend, and we matched up well with two pretty good teams today. We lost but the desire was there. We saw what we can do with a very young line-up and we'll just have to figure out how to improve our skills to play at this level consistently.
"We have to compare ourselves in skill to teams like N.C. State and TCU to see what exactly we're lacking. We have the physicality. We're young, but the team chemistry is very good. We have the desire. We're flying all over the court to get the ball. Now, it's back to the practice gym to work on skill development."
Junior outside hitter Tea Juric claimed a spot on the All-Tournament Team after averaging 3.79 kills and 4.43 digs per set to go with five service aces and a pair of blocks in four matches over the weekend. She had 17 kills and seven digs in Saturday's opener against North Carolina State and followed that up with a 12 kill, 12-dig performance in the nightcap against TCU to post her third double-double over the last two days.
Juric was one of two Green Wave players to post double-digit kill totals against the Wolfpack as junior middle blocker Sarah Strasner had 10 to go with a team-leading three blocks (1 solo, 2 assists). Freshman setter Elizabeth Hurring had 42 of the team's 45 assists while both sophomore outside Sarah Ray and freshman libero Lisa Mordell tallied double-figure dig outings with 18 and 15, respectively. Mordell led all players with a season-best four service aces.
Ray was second to Juric against TCU with nine kills and eight digs. Hurring paced the Wave with 23 assists to go with seven digs, and freshman middle blocker Dayna Kern had a team-best two blocks (1 solo, 1 assist) against the Horned Frogs. Juric led Tulane from the serving stripe with a pair of aces.
While Tulane showed flashes of greatness throughout the day, passing breakdowns and the inability to put the ball away plagued the Green Wave in key moments as opponents made set-deciding runs. As a team, the Green Wave hit just .118 in their two matches with 76 kills and 48 errors in 237 swings.
"It all comes down to consistency," Momic said. "Can you handle the ball consistently and can you stop a good team that knows how to play? It's not enough to be almost there. We have to play on a very high level consistently. We're not there yet, but we have a good team to work with in order to get there. The girls understand that and they were doing their best today, playing tired here in our fourth match of the weekend."
For the second consecutive day, freshmen played a big factor for the Green Wave as the rookies combined to post 68 assists, 36 digs, 20 kills, 5.0 blocks and four service aces during Saturday's matches.
"Liz [Hurring] and Lisa [Mordell] are putting themselves into leadership roles," Momic added. "They're not afraid to speak up. They're not afraid to bring some energy and go after every ball. That can be contagious for the rest of the team. Then we have Dayna [Kern} and Aubrey [Folk] with their size already playing well at the college level, and they're still learning. It's a good mix of four freshmen, all playing different positions. We have skill and we have size, and that's a good place to start."
The Green Wave return to action on Friday, Sept. 18 when they head to Beaumont, Texas, to open the Cardinal Classic against Jackson State at 4:30 p.m. in Lamar University's Montagne Center. From there, Tulane will face Texas-Rio Grande Valley and the host Cardinals on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., respectively, before returning to Devlin Fieldhouse on Friday, Sept. 25, when the Wave will open American Athletic Conference action against Tulsa.
Tickets for that match and future home Green Wave events can be purchase by clicking HERE or by calling the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 861-WAVE (9283).
2015 ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL COLLEGIATE CLASSIC RESULTS
Friday, Sept. 11
Tulane defeated Incarnate Word, 3-1 (20-25, 25-17, 25-15, 25-18)
North Carolina State defeated Nicholls State, 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-12, 25-23)
TCU defeated Incarnate Word, 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-20)
Tulane defeated Nicholls State, 3-0 (26-24, 25-19, 25-11)
Saturday, Sept. 12
North Carolina State defeated Tulane, 3-1 (25-19, 25-27, 25-17, 25-19)
TCU defeated Nicholls State, 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-16)
North Carolina State defeated Incarnate Word, 3-2 (18-25, 16-25, 25-14, 28-26, 15-12)
TCU defeated Tulane, 3-0 (28-26, 25-17, 25-14)
2015 ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL COLLEGIATE CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Stephanie Tobinson, L, Nicholls State
Sarea Alexander, MB, Incarnate Word
Blayke Hranicka, MB, North Carolina State
Kaitlyn Kearney, MB, North Carolina State
Regan McGuire, MB, TCU
Tea Juric, OH, Tulane
Most Valuable Player: Blaire Pickens, RS, TCU
