Tulane University
Houston
Volleyball to Face Houston, SMU in Texas Weekend Series
Nov 1, 2018 | Women's Volleyball
Match Notes
NEW ORLEANS – On the heels of a seven-match win streak after a 2-0 weekend on their home court, the Green Wave make their way to Texas for a pair of conference match-ups against Houston on Friday at 7 p.m. and SMU on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Tulane stands at fourth in the conference with a 7-4 record in The American while going 19-7 overall.
The team's defense ranks first in the conference and 12th in the nation with a .152 opponent hitting percentage. The Olive and Blue also lead the AAC with 1.52 service aces per set while checking in at second in total team kills, blocks and assists with 13.66, 2.52 and 13.07 per set, respectively.
Tulane makes additional appearances in the NCAA Top 25 at No. 16 in total team kills with 1,311 and No. 19 in team assists with 1,150.
Junior right side hitter Erika Hansel leads the team offensively, totaling 229 kills so far this season and averaging 2.69 per set. Junior libero Kaylie McHugh has recorded 45 service aces and 415 digs, owning the first and seventh place spots in the conference.
Senior middle hitter Dayna Kern leads the Green Wave with 98 total blocks (1.23 per set) this season, earning the No. 2 spot in the conference behind sophomore middle hitter Markenzie Benoit with an average of 1.30 per set. Kern also stands at seventh in hitting percentage, averaging .295 with 80 total kills.
HOUSTON COUGARS
A tough start to conference play puts the Cougars at 12th in The American with a 1-10 record, with the team defeating defending conference champion Wichita State in its single win.
Houston has shown strong defensive play so far this season, standing at third in the conference with a .182 opponent hitting percentage.
Freshman middle blocker Kendall Haywood leads the team with 108 total blocks, checking in at second in the AAC, while also adding 182 kills. Junior outside hitter Megan Duncan controls the Cougars' offense, recording 287 kills to stand at tenth in the conference with an average of 2.93 per set.
Tulane owns a 5-31 career record against Houston, going 4-17 on the road. The Green Wave defeated the Cougars in four sets at home earlier this season to solidify their third win of the team's current seven-match streak.
SMU MUSTANGS
The Mustangs are undefeated at home in conference play, earning a 5-6 record in The American while going 8-13 overall.
SMU ranks second in the AAC with an average of 17.27 digs per set and fourth with 2.14 blocks per set.
Brittany Adams leads the team offensively, tallying 238 total kills while also adding 251 digs. Junior libero Montana Watts has recorded 451 digs, standing at third in the conference, while sophomore middle blocker Lexi Nordmann posts a team-high 86 blocks to earn a tenth-place conference standing.
The Green Wave have a one-win advantage over the Mustangs in their series history, owning a 14-13 career record while going 6-7 in Dallas. Tulane battled it out against SMU earlier this season, earning a five-set win in the team's second conference match of the season.
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