Tulane University
12-6, 0-3American
UCF
11-3, 2-0American
Volleyball Drops 3-1 Match to UCF
Sep 28, 2018 | Women's Volleyball
NEW ORLEANS โ Tulane volleyball fell to UCF in four sets (25-15, 19-25, 21-25, 20-25) in the team's first conference match at home this season. Three Green Wave players tallied double-digit kills in the match, with sophomore outside hitter Lexie Douglas leading with 12, freshman outside hitter Makala Heidelberg adding 11 and freshman outside hitter Yvette Burcescu posting ten.
"We came out and executed the game plan perfectly and dominated the first set. Our serves and blocks were the difference," head coach Jim Barnes said. "UCF adjusted and started to tip and roll over our blocks and we didn't defend well at all. We still had chances to win but we didn't execute simple plays consistently enough. Against two of the top teams in the league we have had chances, but weย haven't put it together when it counts."
Heidelberg added her sixth double-double of the season in the conference home opener, tallying 17 digs. Tulane recorded 13 totalย blocks against the Knights, with senior middle hitter Dayna Kern leading the team with eight.ย
The Green Wave grabbed a quick lead in the first set, with a 5-0 run putting the home team ahead 6-2 to start it off. Four kills from Douglas and three from Burcescu put Tulane at a .241 attacking percentage, with the team adding five total blocks to hold UCF to a hitting percentage of .051. Consecutive service aces from junior libero Kaylie McHugh put Tulane at match point, finishing it out with a UCF service error to put the Green Wave ahead 1-0.
The Knights took the lead early on in the second set and stayed ahead for the remainder of play. Thirteen kills from Tulane proved not enough to put the Green Wave on top, with UCF's six blocks holding the home team to an attacking percentage of .162. A kill from the Knights closed the set, evening the score at 1-1.
UCF came out strong in the third set, grabbing a 6-1 run to put the visitors ahead. A 4-1 run from the Green Wave, sparked by kills from Hansel and Douglas, put Tulane at 14 with USF leading at 17. Three kills from Burcescu and Heidelberg closed the gap, putting Tulane behind by two at 22-20, before the visitors took the third set and the lead in the match at 2-1.ย
A kill from Hansel started the fourth set off with a point for the Olive and Blue, before UCF would add six points to put the score at 6-2. The Green Wave remained behind the Knights for the majority of the set, going on to close the gap with a 4-0 run to put the score at 21-19. UCF tallied three quick points to avoid a fifth set, putting the score at 25-20 in the final.
Tulane is set to match up against USF on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse, continuing on with conference play at home.
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.
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