Tulane University
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UTEP
Volleyball to Host Home Opener in I-10 Tournament
Aug 23, 2018 | Women's Volleyball
I-10 Tournament Schedule (.doc)
NEW ORLEANS – Tulane volleyball is set to officially start its season this weekend, hosting the I-10 Tournament on Friday and Saturday at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse. The Green Wave will face UTEP in their first match on Friday at 7 p.m., followed by matches on Saturday against Incarnate Word and Louisiana-Lafayette at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.
The 2018 season marks the team's third year under head coach Jim Barnes. Recording an overall record of 14-19 and a conference record of 3-17 last season, Barnes looks to continue building the program this season and will rely on his 12 returners to help in guiding the young team to success.
LEADING RETURNERS
Junior libero Kaylie McHugh, who led Tulane with 592 digs and 4.62 digs per set in 2017, is expected to lead the Green Wave this season on and off the court.
Senior middle hitters Dayna Kern and Hannah Shaw will look to bring serious competition from the start of this season.
Kern, who led the team in kills with 279 and blocks with 100 during her junior year, is only continuing to improve and will have a great impact on the team during her final year.
Recording four double-doubles last season and finishing second on the team in kills with 268 and kills per set with 2.14, Shaw has found her perfect position in the middle and will serve as a leading playmaker on the court in 2018.
Junior right side hitter Erika Hansel, who led the team with a .226 attacking percentage last season, has improved significantly since 2017 and will continue this year as one of the most terminating hitters on the team.Â
TULANE NEWCOMERS
The Green Wave welcome a familiar face this season, hiring former standout Sarah Strasner as the team's assistant coach. A four-year letterwinner as a middle hitter from 2013-16, Strasner ranks third in the Tulane record books in attacking percentage with .322, fourth in block assists with 335, fifth in total blocks with 412 and solo blocks with 77 and sixth in all-time blocks per set with 0.98.Â
The team also adds five freshmen to its 2018 roster: Yvette Burcescu of Cortlandt Manor, New York; Kayla Dinkins of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Amanda Giardina of Slidell, Louisiana; Makala Heidelberg of Winter Garden, Florida; and Taylor Henigsman of Richardson, Texas.Â
According to PrepVolleyball.com, this group of newcomers ranks among the top 55 signing classes in the country and is expected to bring a high-level of young talent to Tulane this season.Â
I-10 TOURNAMENT OPPONENTS
UTEP
Tulane will face UTEP in its first match of the 2018 season. Recording a 6-22 overall record and a 3-11 Conference USA record in 2017, the Miners and head coach Holly Watts – who enters her sixth season with the team – welcome back four starters and add eight newcomers. Junior outside hitter Macey Austin led the team last season with 359 kills and 876 attacks while junior defensive setter Niki Cebak led the Miners with 275 digs.Â
UIW
LSU alum Samantha Dabbs enters her first season as head coach of UIW in 2018. The Cardinals, who posted an 8-15 overall record and a 7-9 Southland Conference record in 2017, enter the year with 10 returners and seven incoming freshmen. Senior outside hitter Autumn Lockley led the team last season in kills with 240 and kills per set with 2.86 while sophomore setter/libero Madelynn Miller ended the 2017 season with a team high of 406 digs and 3.61 digs per set.
LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE
In-state rival Louisiana-Lafayette enters the 2018 season after finishing with a 21-11 overall record and a 13-3 record in the Sun Belt Conference. Led by head coach Heather Mazeitis-Fontenot, who enters her 11th season with the team, the Ragin' Cajuns have four returning starters including a libero as well as eight incoming freshmen. Junior middle blocker Dree'Ana Abram finished the 2017 season with a team-high 126 blocks, ranking in the top 100 nationally. Senior libero Sydney Davis recorded 603 digs and 4.98 digs per set during the 2017 season, ranking in the top 25 nationally in total digs and the top 40 in digs per set.
Single-game and season 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.
Follow Tulane volleyball on social media at @GreenWaveVB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, FacebookÂ, Instagram.
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