Mertz, McHugh Win Twice, End Season at Bridgestone USA Volleyball Collegiate Beach Championships

Thursday, May 10

Hermosa Beach, Calif.

1 pm

Tulane University

GCU

BVB - Mertz McHugh Holly at USA Volleyball Beach Champs

Mertz, McHugh Win Twice, End Season at Bridgestone USA Volleyball Collegiate Beach Championships

May 11, 2018 | Women's Beach Volleyball

Results

HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. - Senior Madeline Mertz and sophomore Kaylie McHugh earned wins against pairs from HBU but lost against pairs from GCU and Florida State on Thursday and Friday, respectively, at the Bridgestone USA Volleyball Collegiate Beach Championships, resulting in their elimination from tournament play and ending their season.

Mertz and McHugh finish their season with a 32-9 record, with 30 of those wins having come in the regular season and at the conference championship.

QUOTE
"Although our season ended, it ended in a great place - competing on a national stage against some of the best teams in the country, representing our school well and spreading our brand. There is no better way to develop as a beach volleyball team than to travel to California and compete in the deep sands of Hermosa Beach. I'm deeply proud of our entire team and, certainly this weekend, proud of Maddy and Kaylie who played exceptionally well as a team. Our final match result was disappointing after nearly having a victory, but I'll remember the match mostly because it was the end of an amazing career for Maddy and a reaffirmation by Kaylie that our team can compete against the best." -Head Coach Wayne Holly

HOW IT HAPPENED
Mertz and McHugh, who played as Tulane's No. 1 duo throughout the regular season, opened the competition on Thursday against GCU's pair of Hannah Towne and Molly Turner and lost 14-21, 19-21. The Green Wave's pair, however, responded in a big way, following up their tournament-opening loss with two consecutive wins against pairs from HBU.

Mertz and McHugh defeated HBU's Kayla Armer and Tori Hinojosa in straight sets, 21-13, 21-18, on Thursday before beating HBU's pair of Jessica Wooten and Aeriel Horton in straight sets, 21-14, 21-19, on Friday to move their record to 2-1. Later that Friday, Mertz and McHugh battled against Florida State's Hailey Luke and Katie Horton for three sets in a closely-contested match.

After winning the first set by a score of 21-9, Tulane's pair fell 22-24 in the second to move to a decisive third set. The pairs fought back and forth in the third, but FSU's duo pulled away and Mertz and McHugh lost, 6-15, to seal their elimination from the tournament's playoff bracket and end their season.

ROLL WITH THE WAVE
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