Volleyball Splits Doubleheader to Open Owls Classic

Friday, September 16

Boca Raton, Fla.

12:30 P.M. CT

Tulane University

Florida Gulf Coast

Team	1	2	3	Final F
TULANE	17	25	21	0
FGCU	25	27	25	3

Volleyball Splits Doubleheader to Open Owls Classic

Sep 16, 2016 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Final Stats vs FGCU

Final Stats at FAU

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Green Wave volleyball team split the doubleheader in day one of the Owls Classic, moving to 7-4 in 2016 on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Tulane started the day with a disappointing 3-0 loss to Florida Gulf Coast in the morning, the team's first match sweep of the year, before defeating host Florida Atlantic in come-back fashion, taking the match 3-2.

QUOTE

On Tulane's struggles against FGCU…

"We had some chances in the match, and we didn't take advantage of them. We were way too inconsistent, especially in the second set when we had a chance to win. Losing the second one really hurt, and we just didn't have it this morning."

-Tulane head coach Jim Barnes

On the come-from-behind victory over FAU…

"It's definitely nice to get out of the 0-2 hole and get some validation for the girls as far as how hard they've been working. We were making uncharacteristic errors early in the sets, but once we settled that out and got into our rhythm, we've got so many weapons that it's hard to stop us."

--Tulane assistant coach Brian Yale

HOW IT WAS WON

vs. FGCU

Mistakes did the Green Wave in in match one of the Owls Classic, as Tulane fell in three straight sets for the first time this year. After failing to score 20 points in a set for the first time in two weeks, Tulane dropped set one to the Eagles 25-17. The Green Wave bounced back in set two, keeping a steady three-point lead over FGCU, but was unable to fight to the finish when the Eagles tied it up, losing the second set 27-25. Tulane was slow starting out in set three but came within three points of the Eagles in the last plays of the game. The Green Wave was unable to complete the comeback and dropped the final set 25-21.

at FAU

On Friday night, the Green Wave rallied from an 0-2 deficit to clinch the match victory over a host team for the second time this year, taking down Florida Atlantic 3-2 in their home arena. Tulane fell behind late in the first set, falling 25-22 before dropping a consecutive set two in a close 25-23 contest. It was crunch time in set three, but Tulane responded well to the pressure and outhit FAU .394 to .212 to seal the 25-20 win. Set four was back and forth, with the Green Wave forcing a set five on a 25-22 victory. The final set of the night swayed heavily in Tulane's favor, ending on a 15-8 final to clinch Tulane's seventh win of the year. On the night, junior right-side hitter Sarah Ray notched a team-leading 20 kills and 14 digs, hitting .318. Junior setter Justine Bowers had 54 assists in the match.

NEXT UP

Tulane closes out the Owls Invitational on Saturday morning with an 11:00 a.m. contest against Abilene Christian. The Wildcats are 0-2 on the weekend, falling 1-3 to FAU and dropping a five-set match to UT Rio Grande Valley.