Tulane University
12-7, 0-4American
USF
13-3, 2-1American
Volleyball Drops Close 3-0 Match to USF
Sep 30, 2018 | Women's Volleyball
NEW ORLEANS – Tulane volleyball fell to USF in three close sets (23-25, 21-25, 25-27) on Sunday, putting the Green Wave at 12-7 overall and 0-4 in the American Athletic Conference.
Junior right side hitter Erika Hansel led Tulane on the offensive end, recording nine kills while adding a .231 attacking percentage. Freshman outside hitter Makala Heidelberg had a strong performance on both ends of the court, tallying eight kills and ten digs. Senior middle hitter Dayna Kern and freshman outside hitter Yvette Burcescu posted three blocks each in the match, adding four and six kills, respectively.
Recording ten tied scores in the first set, the opener proved to be an even competition from start to finish. A kill from Hansel gave the Green Wave its largest lead of the set, putting the team ahead 12-8 before USF would go on to tie the score at 14. The teams were tied at every following point until a kill from the Bulls put the visitors ahead at 22-21, maintaining the lead to finish it out with a final score of 24-22.
Tulane and USF were tied up at seven in the second before the Bulls took the lead and held it for the remainder of the set. Kills from Hansel, sophomore outside hitter Lexie Douglas and senior middle hitter Hannah Shaw sent the Green Wave on a 4-0 run to close the gap and put the score at 20-19, but the Bulls were able to stay ahead and ultimately end the set with a kill and a score of 25-21.
USF grabbed a quick lead in set three, forcing Tulane to call timeout with a score fo 12-7. Kills from Heidelberg, Hansel and sophomore middle hitter Markenzie Benoit, along with a service ace from senior middle hitter Hannah Shaw, evened the score at 12. The Green Wave were ahead with a score of 22-16, hoping to force a fourth set, but the Bulls caught up to tie it again at 24 and eventually close it out at 27-25.
The Green Wave are set to continue on with conference play on the road next weekend, matching up against Memphis on Friday at 4 p.m.
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