Mertz, McHugh Knock Off Top Pairs in No. 16 Beach Volleyball's First Day at Palmetto Invitational

Friday, April 13

Columbia, S.C.

10 am

Tulane University

College of Charleston

Mertz, McHugh Knock Off Top Pairs in No. 16 Beach Volleyball's First Day at Palmetto Invitational

Apr 13, 2018 | Women's Beach Volleyball

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Senior Madeline Mertz and sophomore Kaylie McHugh backed up last week's perfection with more of the same, winning in straight sets against No. 20 College of Charleston and No. 9 South Carolina's top pairs to help No. 19/16 Tulane beach volleyball go 1-1 in day one at the Palmetto Invitational. The Green Wave's record now stands at 19-12 overall, 4-7 CCSA.

QUOTES
"It was a terrific win against a tough College of Charleston team. We played with great focus and with a concerted effort to avenge our earlier loss to them. I'm definitely proud of our workman-like attitude in that match."

"It was a tough loss against South Carolina. Again, we played very well at times and put ourselves in a position to win, but fell short by just a few plays against a top-10 team. We're still learning how to be more aggressive and how to develop the skills that are needed to become an elite team. We played very very well, but that isn't good enough against the country's elite teams. We need to be better at developing the players to perform at the highest level."
-Head Coach Wayne Holly

HOW IT HAPPENED
No. 19 Tulane 4, No. 20 College of Charleston 1

THIS ONE BELONGS TO THE WAVE!

Pick up a conference win ?
Beat a ranked opponent ?
Extend win streak to four ?

Strong start to the Palmetto Invitational!#RollWave ??????? pic.twitter.com/IyyGswjajJ
— TulaneBeachVB (@GreenWaveBeach) April 13, 2018

The Green Wave started the day with a win. Tulane defeated Charleston, 4-1, earning a victory against a ranked opponent and its fifth conference win of the season.

Tulane jumped out to a 1-0 advantage after senior Lan Nguyen and sophomore Tarin Mergener took down Charleston's No. 2 duo in straight sets. The Green Wave's pair won 21-19, 21-18.

Charleston responded with a three-set win in flight four to even the dual at one. Freshmen Rio Frohoff and Gabriella Becerra battled against Charleston's pair for each and every point before falling 15-21, 22-20, 11-15.

The Wave's top pair of Mertz and McHugh were quick to right the ship, however. The No. 1 duo defeated Charleston's top duo in back-to-back sets, winning 21-12, 21-12 to give Tulane a 2-1 lead.

Tulane never looked back, picking up wins in flights five and three to earn a 4-1 victory. Freshmen Ashely Delgado and Addison Hermstad, playing at No. 5, won in straight sets while junior Anna Chin and freshman Lauren Orlich pulled out a three-set win at No. 3.

With the win, Mertz and McHugh now have a team-leading 24 wins – nine of which have come against ranked opponents.

No. 9 South Carolina 3, No. 19 Tulane 2
Tulane nearly pulled off an upset win against South Carolina, jumping ahead 2-1 and coming within a flight win away of a dual victory.

After a loss in flight four, the Green Wave saw Nguyen and Mergener pull out a three-set win in flight two to even the dual at one. Tulane's No. 2 pair put together a furious comeback after dropping the first set to win 12-21, 22-20, 16-14.

Mertz and McHugh continued the Green Wave's roll with a straight-set win against South Carolina's top duo. The No. 1 pair cruised to a 21-14, 21-16 win, giving Tulane a 2-1 advantage and an opportunity to clinch a dual victory with one more flight win.

With the opportunity to win the dual, all attention shifted to the action in flights three and five. Frohoff and Becerra, playing at the five, fell in straight sets, however, moving the responsibility over to Chin and Orlich in flight three.

Tulane's No. 3 pair battled to three sets yet again. Chin and Orlich dropped the first set before rallying to win the second, 21-18. South Carolina built an early advantage in the decisive third set, which proved insurmountable, as the Green Wave would drop the flight and lose the dual, 3-2.

With their second win of the day, Mertz and McHugh now have a team-leading 25 wins – 10 of which have come against ranked opponents - and are on a 10-flight win streak.

UP NEXT
Tulane starts early tomorrow morning. The Green Wave will play Missouri State at 8 a.m. before facing Coastal Carolina at 10 a.m. to conclude the weekend competition.

ROLL WITH THE WAVE
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.

Follow Tulane beach volleyball on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram for live results, updates and news. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and @TulaneAthletics on Snapchat.

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RESULTS FROM DAY ONE AT PALMETTO INVITATIONAL
DUAL ONE: #19 Tulane 4, #20 College of Charleston 1
1. Kaylie McHugh/Madeline Mertz (TLN) def. Krissy Mummey/Katja Ehlers (COFC) 21-12, 21-12
2. Tarin Mergener/Lan Nguyen (TLN) def. McKala Rhodes/Devon Rachel (COFC) 21-19, 21-18
3. Lauren Orlich/Anna Chin (TLN) def. Kennedy Madison/Riana Brennan (COFC) 21-17, 8-21, 15-11
4. Allison Beckman/Lauren Freed (COFC) def. Rio Frohoff/Gabriella Becerra (TLN) 21-15, 20-22, 15-11
5. Ashley Delgado/Addison Hermstad (TLN) def. Logan Manusky/Taylor Foley (COFC) 21-17, 21-11
Ext. Morgan Esters/Kendyl Brennan (TLN) def. Britney Vallez/Lauren Hollman (COFC) 12-21, 22-20, 15-10

Order of finish: 2,4,1,5,3

DUAL TWO: #9 South Carolina 3, #19 Tulane 2
1. Kaylie McHugh/Madeline Mertz (TLN) def. Shannon Williams/Ali Denney (SC) 21-14, 21-16
2. Tarin Mergener/Lan Nguyen (TLN) def. Cadie Bates/Katie Smith (SC) 12-21, 22-20, 16-14
3. Aubrey Ezell/Lydia Dimke (SC) def. Lauren Orlich/Anna Chin (TLN) 21-19, 18-21, 15-10
4. Julia Mannisto/Carly Schnieder (SC) def. Ashley Delgado/Addison Hermstad (TLN) 21-18, 21-12
5. Macie Tendrich/Leah Perri (SC) def. Rio Frohoff/Gabriella Becerra (TLN) 21-19, 21-14
Ext. Hannah Sorensen/Franky Harrison (SC) def. Kendyl Brennan/Morgan Esters (TLN) 21-12, 21-14

Order of finish: 4, 2, 1, 5, 3