Volleyball Completes Doubleheader Sweep Against South Alabama

Saturday, August 26

New Orleans, La.

1:00 p.m.

Tulane University

2-1

South Alabama

0-1

South Ala.

Tulane

Photo by: Parker Waters

Volleyball Completes Doubleheader Sweep Against South Alabama

Aug 26, 2017 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

NEW ORLEANS – After having its schedule thrown into flux by inclement weather associated with Hurricane Harvey, Tulane volleyball settled into the Hertz Center on Saturday for its impromptu home opener against South Alabama. The Green Wave swept the doubleheader, winning the first and second match, 3-2 and 3-0, respectively, and improved to 3-1 overall on the season.

A DOUBLEHEADER SWEEEEEEEEP! AND THIS ONE BELONGS TO THE WAVE! #RollWave pic.twitter.com/xH2QzJzdb9
— Tulane Volleyball (@GreenWaveVB) August 27, 2017

Match One
Tulane and South Alabama battled back-and-forth in the first match of the doubleheader, exchanging sets and, ultimately, heading to a decisive fifth set. After losing the first set, 25-16, the Green Wave took the second set in commanding fashion, 25-16. Led by junior middle hitter Dayna Kern's team-high 13 kills, Tulane posted an overall team attack percentage of .217 in the match, including percentages of .345 and .400 in the second and third set, respectively.

The Green Wave won the fourth set, 25-18, to force a fifth set, which it won, 15-8, to secure the match victory. Senior setter Justine Bowers finished with a match-high 26 assists, while sophomore libero Kaylie McHugh added a match-high 21 digs. Freshman setter Jenna Ibieta tallied 23 assists and eight digs to go along with two service aces.

Match Two
The Green Wave delivered a dominant performance in the second match of Saturday's doubleheader, winning 3-0. Trailing 21-15 in the first set, Tulane rallied for a gritty comeback and won the set, 30-28. The Green Wave recorded nine of its 19 kills in the process, en route to a team attack percentage of .350 in the first set.

Rolling with momentum from the first set, Tulane took control of the second and third sets, winning 25-16 and 25-22. Sophomore right side hitter Alexis Silver finished with a team-high ten kills, while freshman middle hitter Markenzie Benoit chipped in eight kills. McHugh continued where she left off in match one, recording a match-high 16 digs. Bowers and Ibieta combined for 39 assists – six more than South Alabama had as a team (33).

Quote

Quick Hits????: Coach Jim Barnes talks playing four games in two days, and recaps today's doubleheader sweep against South Alabama. #RollWave pic.twitter.com/6tSMntb6mc
— Tulane Volleyball (@GreenWaveVB) August 27, 2017

"Four matches in one weekend is not what you really want, but for our young team, I think it was perfect," head coach Jim Barnes said. "We really learned a lot of lessons. We played good teams with really fast offenses. I was really proud of the way our ladies handled the four matches in two days, and we certainly got better from it."

Up Next
Tulane volleyball will travel to Starkville, Miss. on Sep. 1-2 to compete at the Mississippi State Tournament. The Green Wave will play Grambling State at noon on Friday, Sep. 1, before facing Mississippi State, 7 p.m. Friday night. Tulane then plays Stephen F. Austin, 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

Season ticket packages for the 2017 season are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging onto TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.

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