Tulane University
ECU
Volleyball Looks to Extend Win Streak at Home, Hosts ECU and Cincinnati
Oct 25, 2018 | Women's Volleyball
Match Notes
NEW ORLEANSย โย Tulane volleyball brings conference play back to its home court this weekend, matching up against No. 5 ECU on Friday at 7 p.m. before facing No. 2 Cincinnati on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse.
"This is the most important weekend of the season so far. We are playing very well and are focused on ECU - they are a streaky team and can play at a high level. Then we have the opportunity to play a high-ranking opponent on Sunday in Cincinnati," head coach Jim Barnes said. "These are the matches that can greatly help our goal of making the NCAA tournament. We hope our fans will join in on the fun at Fogelman in Devlin for these matches."
The No. 4 Green Wave own a 9-2 record on their home court this season and are looking to pick up their sixth consecutive American Athletic Conference win after sweeping UConn and Temple on the road.
Last Sunday's win against the Owls marks the first time that Tulane volleyball has won five straight AAC matches since joining the conference in 2014. The last time the Olive and Blue recorded five straight conference wins was in 2013, with a seven-match win streak in Conference USA competition.
Much of the Green Wave's success this season is owed to their defense, with the team leading the conference and earning a No. 12 spot in the nation with a .152 opponent hitting percentage. Tulane also ranks second in The American with 13.07 assists, 13.67 kills, 2.52 blocks and 1.48 service aces while checking in at third in hitting percentage at .230.
Sophomore outside hitter Lexie Douglas leads the team offensively, tallying 211 kills this season, with junior right side hitter Erika Hansel following close behind with 201. Junior libero Kaylie McHugh has recorded 391 digs and 37 service aces to lead the Green Wave statistics, earning seventh and second place standings in the AAC, respectively.
Freshman setter Taylor Henigsman earned 501 assists in 24 matches, with senior middle hitter Dayna Kern earning 88 total blocks for a No. 3 standing in the conference with an average of 1.22 per set.
ECU PIRATES
A strong start to conference play marked by a four-match win streak against Houston, SMU, UConn and Temple puts ECU at fifth in the AAC standings with a 4-5 record, tied with Wichita State and USF.
The Pirates' defense has earned the team a No. 2 conference ranking in blocks by opponents, holding teams to an average of 1.80 per set, and a No. 4 ranking in opponent hitting percentage at .185.
Sophomore setter Shelby Martin leads the team with 543 total assists, averaging 8.90 per set while checking in at third in the AAC. Junior defensive specialist Maggie Hallow records an average of 4.20 digs per set to earn a No. 8 spot in The American standings.
CINCINNATI BEARCATS
A five-set thriller against UCF at home last weekend resulted in the Bearcats' single conference loss this season, putting Cincinnati at No. 2 in The American with an 8-1 record.
UC checks in at No. 4 in the country with 1,210 total assists and No. 5 with 1,281 kills, while leading the conference with a .267 team hitting percentage to earn a No. 19 spot in the NCAA statistics.
Redshirt junior Jordan Thompson leads the team offensively, ranking No. 1 in the nation in kills per set with 6.14, total points with 633.5, points per set with 6.81 and total kills with 571.
SERIES HISTORY
The Green Wave own an 18-5 career record against the Pirates, losing only one game on their home court for a 9-1 record in New Orleans. Tulane was 1-1 against ECU in 2017, losing on the road in five sets in their first meeting of the season while coming back to win in five sets at Fogelman in Devlin.
Tulane posts a 2-27 series record against the Bearcats, going 2-9 at home. The last time Tulane beat Cincinnati was when the team was in the Metro Conference, earning a five-set win in 1995.
Single-game 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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