Tulane University
New Orleans
Beach Volleyball Goes 2-0 in Successful Green Wave Invitational
Mar 16, 2019 | Women's Beach Volleyball
NEW ORLEANS – The Tulane beach volleyball team (11-7, 4-5 CCSA) went 2-0 in Saturday's Green Wave Invitational, defeating UNO 4-1 before sweeping Coastal Carolina 5-0.
"The players were fantastic today and I am so proud of them," head coach Wayne Holly said. "It was evident from the moment we began warming up that we were focused and driven to compete. This is the best we've played all season. We're starting to hit our stride now and I'm just really happy for the players to see them play so well because it was a challenging week of practice put in by everyone and we're starting to see the payoff."
Freshmen Haley Gibson and Ellie Leitko started both matches off strong for the Green Wave, taking down UNO's Madison Miller and Ryan Rand in straight sets on court four before earning the win over Coastal Carolina's Annett Nemeth and Kalin Eske with 21-16 and 21-17 scores in the second match of the day.
Keeping the momentum going for Tulane, juniors Kaylie McHugh and Eva Torruella also recorded two-set wins from the No. 1 spot, defeating UNO's Veronica Corcoran and Rachel Kuhn before securing the match win for the home team in the pair's 21-13, 21-18 victory over Coastal Carolina's Sydney Alvis and Leah Hardeman.
Sophomores Rio Frohoff and Lauren Orlich earned their ninth and tenth wins as a duo this season, beating UNO's Victoria Corcoran and Ally Carr in two sets on court three before doing the same against Coastal Carolina's Lucy Campbell and Anaiah Boyer with 25-23 and 21-15 scores.
Junior Tarin Mergener and sophomore Addison Hermstad continued with their success from the No. 2 position, tallying two victories over UNO's Blessing Dunn and Brianna Vega and Coastal Carolina's Shelby Ladewig and Aleksandra Djuric with identical 21-18 set scores in the first match and 21-12 scores in the second.
Earning the three-set win to put the Green Wave ahead 2-0 against the Chanticleers, sophomore Gabriella Becerra and freshman Kilani Daane defeated Haylie Beck and Anne-Katrine Hakansson in come-from-behind fashion with 17-21, 23-21 and 15-12 scores.
Tulane celebrated its seniors, Anna Chin and Briana Correa, in the team's final home match of the 2019 season. Chin finished her career with 44 total wins, defeating 10 ranked opponents in three seasons on the sand, while Correa totaled 46 victories in three seasons.
Correa earned her bachelor's degree in business management with a legal studies minor this past December, while Chin plans to receive her degree in communications and public relations this May.
The Green Wave head back on the road but stay in-state next weekend, competing in the Tiger Beach Challenge on Friday and Saturday. Tulane is set to match up against conference opponents Southern Miss and No. 4 LSU on day one of the tournament and University of North Florida and Spring Hill College on day two.
Tulane 4, UNO 1
No. 1 Kaylie McHugh/Eva Torruella (TLN) def. Veronica Corcoran/Rachel Kuhn (UNO) 21-14, 21-12
No. 2 Tarin Mergener/Addison Hermstad (TLN) def. Blessing Dunn/Brianna Vega (UNO) 21-18, 21-18
No. 3 Rio Frohoff/Lauren Orlich (TLN) def. Victoria Corcoran/Ally Carr (UNO) 21-19, 21-16
No. 4 Haley Gibson/Ellie Leitko (TLN) def. Madison Miller/Rhyan Rand (UNO) 21-16, 21-13
No. 5 Alexa Spartz/Maxine Walsh (UNO) def. Gabriella Becerra/Kilani Daane (TLN) 23-21, 21-17
Order of finish: 4, 5, 1, 3, 2
Tulane 5, Coastal Carolina 0
No. 1 Kaylie McHugh/Eva Torruella (TLN) def. Sydney Alvis/Leah Hardeman (CC) 21-13, 21-18
No. 2 Tarin Mergener/Addison Hermstad (TLN) def. Shelby Ladewig/Aleksandra Djuric (CC) 21-12, 21-12
No. 3 Rio Frohoff/Lauren Orlich (TLN) def. Lucy Campbell/Anaiah Boyer (CC) 25-23, 21-15
No. 4 Haley Gibson/Ellie Leitko (TLN) def. Annett Nemeth/Kalin Eske (CC) 21-16, 21-17
No. 5 Gabriella Becerra/Kilani Daane (TLN)Â def. Haylie Beck/Anne-Katrine Hakansson (CC) 17-21, 23-21, 15-12
Order of finish: 4, 5, 1, 2, 3
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