Tulane University
17-7, 5-4AAC
Temple
5-16, 2-7AAC
Volleyball Sweeps Temple, Earns 5-0 Conference Win Streak
Oct 21, 2018 | Women's Volleyball
PHILADELPHIAย โย Tulane volleyball earned its fifth consecutive American Athletic Conference win on Sunday, defeating Temple in three sets (25-18, 25-17, 25-22) to own 11 sweeps and a 17-7 overall record this season.
"This was a great weekend for the team. Every player on the team is locked in and playing consistently aggressive," head coach Jim Barnes said. "Great job by our setters and middles bringing balance to our attack and another outstanding job by our passers and defense in controlling both matches. We've improved each week, especially this week, and we'll continue to push this next week to prepare for our homestandย against ECU and Cincinnati."
The Green Wave recorded a .333 hitting percentage, holding the Owls to .154 in the three-set competition. Junior right side hitter Erika Hansel dominated the court offensively, tallying 14 kills and zero errors with a .609 hitting percentage. Freshman middle hitter Kayla Dinkins was just shy of double-digit kills, hitting nine with a .412 attacking percentage while also adding four blocks.
Junior libero Kaylie McHugh earned her first career double-double, recording 11 digs and a career-high ten assists. Freshman outside hitter Makala Heidelberg led the Olive and Blue with 13 digs of the team's 46 total.
Tulane and Temple exchanged leads at the start of the first set until the Green Wave grabbed a 5-1 run to break the 12-point tie, putting the score at 17-13. Kills from Heidelberg and senior middle hitter Dayna Kern kept the visiting team on top, with the two hitters teaming up for a block to take a five-point lead at 20-15. Tulane's 6.5 total team blocks held Temple to a .029 hitting percentage, with Hansel tallying her third kill of the match at set point to close it out and give Tulane a 1-0 lead in the match.
The Green Wave continued their strong offensive play in set two, posting a .467 hitting percentage with 17 total kills and only three errors. Hansel hit three consecutive kills to start second set play, giving Tulane a quick 3-0 lead. A 5-0 run, marked by kills from Kern and Heidelberg followed by blocks from the two and freshman outside hitter Yvette Burcescu, gave the Green Wave an eight-point lead at 20-12. Sophomore outside hitter Lexie Douglas hit her third kill of the set to keep Tulane ahead with a 2-0 advantage heading into set three.
The kills kept coming in the third and final set against Temple, with Tulane earning 18 while hitting .342. Back-to-back kills from Burcescu gave the Green Wave an early lead at 5-3, with three successful hits in a row from Hansel and Douglas keeping the team's momentum going. The Owls grabbed a four-point lead with a 16-12 score, but kills from Douglas and Burcescu along with a block from Dinkins and Heidelberg put Tulane back in the lead at 18-17. The Green Wave stayed on top for the remainder of play, with a kill from Hansel solidifying the sweep for the Wave to avoid a fourth set.
Tulane will host ECU on Friday and Cincinnati on Sunday on its home court, looking to extend its 9-2 winning streak at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse.
Single-game and season tickets can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging into TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
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