Tulane University
Arkansas State
Volleyball Set to Face Arkansas State in NIVC First Round
Nov 28, 2018 | Women's Volleyball
Match Notes (NIVC First Round)
NEW ORLEANS – The Tulane volleyball team is set to compete in postseason play this week for the first time since 2009, hosting the first and second rounds of the 2018 Women's National Invitational Volleyball Championships (NIVC) on Thursday and Friday at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse.
"Once again we had a great week of preparation," said head coach Jim Barnes, who is preparing for his third career postseason appearance. "Our scrimmages in practice are at a higher level than several of our matches because of the quality of our depth. Now we look to take advantage of our No. 2 seed in this national tournament while playing at home. ASU is a dangerous team with a big hitter, so our No. 6 defense will have to be ready. All Greenies grab your family and friends and join the excitement on Thursday night!"
The Green Wave (25-8, 13-5 The American) open the tournament with a matchup against Arkansas State (19-3, 9-7 Sun Belt) on their home court on Thursday at 7:30 p.m, following a first-round competition between Arkansas Little Rock (19-12, 9-7 Sun Belt) and California Baptist (19-10, 9-7 Western Athletic Conference) at 5 p.m.
The winners of each match will face off on Friday at 7 p.m. in New Orleans, competing for a spot in round three of the tournament.
Tulane finished the regular season with a third-place standing in the American Athletic Conference after having been selected 10th in the preseason coaches poll. An 11-match winning streak sent the Green Wave on a successful run, with the team winning 13 of its final 14 matches, earning Tulane an automatic bid to the NIVC.
Only one of 32 participating teams in the postseason tournament has a higher RPI than the Green Wave, with Iowa State (16-13, 9-7 Big 12) checking in at No. 60 and Tulane just one behind at 61.
Tulane led the conference defensively with an opponent hitting percentage of .150 in the regular season while standing at sixth in the nation. The team ranks second in the conference in blocks, assists and service aces, tallying 2.55, 13.13 and 1.46 per set, while also ranking third in kills with an average of 13.71.
Junior right side hitter Erika Hansel and senior middle hitter Dayna Kern each earned spots on the First Team All-Conference this season, with Hansel being just one of three in the AAC to have earned a unanimous selection.
Kern led the conference in blocks, totaling 131 with an average of 1.22 per set, while also checking in at third with a .310 hitting percentage.
Junior libero Kaylie McHugh broke the conference single-season service aces record this season, totaling 56 this year. McHugh checks in at seventh in the nation and leads the AAC with an average of 0.46 aces per set, while also ranking eighth in digs with an average of 4.34 per set and a total of 529 this season.
Arkansas State (19-3, 9-7 Sun Belt)
After defeating South Alabama and Coastal Carolina in the 1st and 2nd rounds of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, Arkansas State fell to Appalachian State in four sets in the semifinals to finish the 2018 season with a 19-13 overall and 9-7 conference record.
The Red Wolves stand at third in the Sun Belt with an average of 1.32 service aces per set, while ranking fourth in kills, assists and opponent hitting percentage with 13.02, 12.31 and .191 per set.
Senior outside hitter Carlisa May leads the conference with an average of 4.77 kills per set, totaling 563 this season. Senior setter Ellie Watkins checks in at fourth with 9.91 assists per set, recording a total of 1160 in regular season action.
The 2018 postseason competition marks Arkansas State's second-straight NIVC appearance, with the Red Wolves defeating Southern Illinois-Edwardsville before falling to 2017 champions Ole Miss in the second round last season.
Tulane and A-State have met six times in series history, the first being in 1976 with the last in 1992. The Green Wave and the Red Wolves post an even opponent record, with each team going 3-3 at neutral sites.
Visit the NIVC Tournament Central site here for all information pertaining to the postseason competition.
Tickets for the first and second rounds of the NIVC Tournament at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse will be available for $5 and can be purchased here.
Follow Tulane volleyball on social media at @GreenWaveVB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.
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