Tulane University
8-3
Howard
5-5
Tulane Volleyball Sweeps Howard, Wins Rutgers Invitational
Sep 8, 2018 | Women's Volleyball
PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY – Tulane volleyball (8-3) swept Howard in three sets (25-13, 25-16, 25-13) in the team's final match of the tournament, going 2-1 on the weekend to win the Rutgers Invitational. Junior libero Kaylie McHugh, finishing the weekend with a team-high 58 digs, was named Most Valuable Player, while freshman outside hitter Yvette Burcescu, who tallied 26 kills and nine blocks, earned a spot on the All-Tournament team.
"It was another weekend of growth for our team, we played a lot of different players and were able to figure out what really helps us get to the next level," head coach Jim Barnes said. "We saw the value of serving tough and we broke down the other teams and really dominated when we played that aggressively. Overall I felt like we could have gone 3-0, but a great win against Rutgers and again today, so I'm proud of them. Those were two very deserving awards for Kaylie [McHugh] who really led the team and Yvette [Burcescu] who had a great weekend too, just her second weekend on the right side so I'm proud of how she played and her progression this season."
The Green Wave started off quick in the first set against Howard, gaining a 9-4 lead with a kill from Burcescu. Sophomore outside hitter Lexie Douglas and sophomore middle hitter Markenzie Benoit led the team in kills with four each, posting 1.000 and .800 hitting percentages, respectively. Tulane kept a strong lead throughout the set, finishing it with a kill from junior right side hitter Erika Hansel to win it 25-13.
Tulane kept its momentum going heading into set two, with a 4-0 run and three consecutive kills from Douglas, freshman outside hitter Makala Heidelberg and senior middle hitter Hannah Shaw to score a fast lead on the Bisons. The Green Wave never lost their position on top, controlling the court on both offense and defense. Heidelberg and McHugh each recorded nine digs in the set, with the freshman adding on two kills. A service ace from freshman setter Taylor Henigsman closed it out for the Wave with a 25-16 score.Â
The energy remained high in the third and final set, beginning with a 5-0 run and three consecutive kills from the Green Wave, two from sophomore right side hitter Kristen Thompson and another from Heidelberg. Douglas led with six kills in the set, with a total of 12 on the match and a .632 hitting percentage to top both teams. Heidelberg was just short of a double-double, adding 12 digs and nine kills, while McHugh posted a team-high 21 digs. Back-to-back kills from Shaw and Heidelberg ended the match at 25-13 to solidify the sweep.
The Olive and Blue will take on in-state opponent Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in Hammond, Louisiana. Tulane brings it back home next weekend, hosting the Allstate Sugar Bowl Tournament on Sept. 14-15, matching up against Little Rock, Villanova and Clemson at Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse.
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