Tulane University
Jacksonville State University
No. 15 Beach Volleyball Sweeps Day One of Blazer Duals
Mar 4, 2017 | Women's Beach Volleyball
BIRMINGHAM – Tulane's beach volleyball squad opened its sixth season in sweeping fashion on Saturday afternoon at the Blazer Beach Duals, hosted on the campus of the University of Alabama-Birmingham. The Green Wave (2-0, 1-0 CCSA) delivered 5-0 match sweeps of both Saturday opponents, opening the season on back-to-back sweeps for the first time in program history.
With the pair of victories, Tulane moves to 2-0 in duals this season and has now opened the season on a winning note for three consecutive years.
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QUOTE
"Overall, today was a good start to the season with more opportunities to get better tomorrow. I'm proud of our team for performing to their capability and for how we supported each other emotionally throughout the day. Against Jacksonville State, it was important to execute our skills on our side of the net efficiently and consistently, which the players did very well. We were then tested mentally against a very good UAB team to stay composed in some very tight situations. UAB always plays us tough and has had our number over the years, so it was good to see our players keep cool heads and make plays down the stretch."
--Head Coach Wayne Holly
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TULANE 5, JACKSONVILLE STATE 0
The Green Wave opened the first dual match-up of the season with a noon contest against the Gamecocks of Jacksonville State, the first meeting between the schools in program history. Tulane held the Gamecocks to under 15 points in each of the 12 sets played in the dual, with two sub-10 point scores.
Tulane started off on a high note, coming away with two-set sweeps on the first two courts off of strong opening performances in the No. 4 and No. 5 positions. Courts two and three would also play to Tulane's favor, with preseason All-Conference selection Tea Juric recording her first win of the season in a two-set decision with freshman partner Kaylie McHugh.
Junior duo Madeline Mertz and Lan Nguyen, playing in flight one, wrapped up Tulane's first victory of the season, holding their opposition to six and eight points in each set, respectively.
On court six, the Green Wave sealed an exhibition match sweep from the sophomore pair of Lindsey Huber and Anna Chin, who won their sets 21-14 and 21-12.
TULANE 5, UAB 0
Tulane returned to the sand later that afternoon for the season's first match against a Coastal Collegiate Sports Association opponent. Downing their opposition in straight matches for the second time today, the Green Wave handed the Blazers a 5-0 decision to close out day one of competition.
Seniors Christina McAfee and Annie Shurtz came away with a three-set win on court five, playing to a 23-21 decision in their first outing but dropping the second on a score of 18-21. Tulane moved to 1-0 in the match on a 15-8 victory from McAfee and Shurtz, but flight four would prove another nail-biter for the Green Wave.
Playing in the No. 4 position for the second time this year, seniors Sarah Strasner and Hannah Holmes won a close 21-19 set one but fell 13-21 in their second outing. Strasner and Holmes hung tight to the Blazers in the deciding set with an extra-point victory of 19-16.
Up two matches to none, sophomore Briana Correa and freshman partner Terin Mergener sealed Tulane's second win of the season with a pair of close sets against UAB's third-flight pair. Court two of Juric and McHugh would also do away with their competition in straight sets, while Mertz and Nguyen wrapped up the sweep in a three-set victory over UAB's No. 1 duo.
For the second time today, Tulane's exhibition pair of Chin and Huber would post a match sweep of their own to round out the Green Wave's Saturday efforts.
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UP NEXT
The Blazer Duals continue on Sunday morning, as Tulane takes on Austin Peay at 8:00 a.m. to start off day two in Birmingham. The Green Wave wrap up their first weekend of the season with a 1:00 p.m. match-up against in-state foe UL-Monroe.
Tulane will hit the road return to Alabama next weekend for Spring Hill's Badger Beach Classic in Gulf Shores on Saturday and Sunday March 11-12.
Fans can keep up with the latest in Tulane beach volleyball action by following the program on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
RESULTS FROM DAY ONE OF THE BLAZER DUALS
TULANE 5, JACKSONVILLE STATE 0
Court 1: Madeline Mertz/Lan Nguyen (Tulane) def. Katie Will/Jaelyn Visser (JSU) – 21-6, 21-8
Court 2: Tea Juric/Kaylie McHugh (Tulane) def. Hannah Kirk/Charis Ludtke (JSU) – 21-11, 21-12
Court 3: Briana Correa/Tarin Mergener (Tulane) def. Sadie Anderson/Maddie Cloutier (JSU) – 21-13, 21-12
Court 4: Sarah Strasner/Hannah Holmes (Tulane) def. Rachel Perucki/Hailey Hughes (JSU) – 21-7, 21-10
Court 5: Christina McAfee/Annie Shurtz (Tulane) def. MacKenzie Rombach/Ashley Clingan (JSU) – 21-11, 21-12
Exhibition: Lindsey Huber/Anna Chin (Tulane) def. Jennifer Hart/Shayla Schmidt (JSU) – 21-14, 21-12
No. 15 TULANE 5, UAB 0
Court 1: Madeline Mertz/Lan Nguyen (Tulane) def. Avei Logoleo/Erika Zembyla (UAB) – 21-13, 18-21, 15-8
Court 2: Tea Juric/Kaylie McHugh (Tulane) def. Avery Hoven/Morgan Smith (UAB) – 21-18, 21-13
Court 3: Briana Correa/Tarin Mergener (Tulane) def. Kat Jovicic/Tressa Buckland (UAB) – 21-18, 21-19
Court 4: Sarah Strasner/Hannah Holmes (Tulane) def. Gabbi Moreno/Rachel Evans (UAB) – 21-19, 13-21, 19-17 Â
Court 5: Christina McAfee/Annie Shurtz (Tulane) def. Emily Martinez/Kenley Adams (UAB) – 23-21, 18-21, 15-8
Exhibition: Anna Chin/Lindsey Huber (Tulane) def. Haley Jared/Kalah Jones (UAB) – 21-13, 21-11
