Tulane University
Florida International University
Beach Volleyball Defeats No. 20 TCU to Close Out FIU Surf 'N Turf
Mar 30, 2019 | Women's Beach Volleyball
MIAMI – The Tulane beach volleyball team (15-12, 6-9 CCSA) defeated its first ranked opponent of the season on Saturday, notching a close 3-2 win over conference opponent No. 20 TCU in the team's second match of the day.
"It was a weekend of very tough competition that pushed us to play well," head coach Wayne Holly said. "I'm proud of how hard we competed under all of the circumstances. Today, the team showed exceptional resolve in playing shorthanded and earned a tough conference win against TCU."
The Green Wave fell to No. 8 Florida International to start the day, before coming short of pulling off a second win against No. 10 Stetson but ultimately falling with a 1-4 score.
After Tulane dropped its first match from the No. 5 spot against No. 20 TCU, freshman Ellie Leitko and sophomore Gabriella Becerra came out with a win to tie the score at 1-1, notching a two-set victory with identical 21-19 scores over Caroline White and Jaelyn Green.
The Horned Frogs then regained the 2-1 lead after the Green Wave dropped the match on court three, but sophomore Lauren Orlich and junior Tarin Mergener were able to tie it up again after defeating opponents Molly Taylor and Taylor Bradley in straight sets, 21-18 and 21-17.
After falling in the first set, 17-21, juniors Kaylie McHugh and Eva Torruella were able to turn the match around, taking set two over Mandi Orellane and Haven Hill with a 21-18 score. The No. 1 duo dominated in set three, ultimately winning 15-6, to clinch the tight win for the Olive and Blue.
The pair was also almost able to take down FIU's Federica Frasca and Margherita Bianchin in the team's first match on Saturday, falling in set one, 19-21, before taking the second with a 21-14 score. McHugh and Torruella were just short of earning the tie-breaking victory to close it out, but dropped the set in a close 11-15 match.
The Green Wave will be back on the sand in two weeks, heading to Columbia, South Carolina on April 12 and 13 to compete in the Palmetto Invitational. Tulane will face conference opponents UNC Wilmington, No. 9 South Carolina and College of Charleston, in addition to Missouri State, in the weekend tournament.
No. 8 FIU 5, Tulane 0
No. 1 Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin (FIU) def. Kaylie McHugh/Eva Tourruella (TU), 21-19, 14-21, 15-11
No. 2 Dorina Klinger/Ronja Klinger (FIU) def. Lauren Orlich/Rio Frohoff (TU), 21-12, 21-16
No. 3 Ali Denney/Nina Petranovic (FIU) def. Addison Hermstad/Tarin Mergener (TU), 21-5, 21-0 (forfeit)
No. 4 Lina Bernier/Erika Zembyla (FIU) def. Ellie Leitko/Haley Gibson (TU), 19-21, 21-9, 15-8
No. 5 Madison Besterfield/Katie Friesen (FIU) def. Morgan Esters/Gabriella Becerra (TU), 21-13, 25-23
Order of finish: 3, 2, 5, 4, 1
Tulane 3, No. 20 TCU 2
No. 1 Kaylie McHugh/Eva Torruella (TU) def. Mandi Orellane/Haven Hill (TCU), 17-21, 21-18, 15-6
No. 2 Lauren Orlich/Tarin Mergener (TU) def. Molly Taylor/Taylor Bradley (TCU), 21-18, 21-17
No. 3 Claire Doyle/Jensyn Bledsoe (TCU) def. Haley Gibson/Rio Frohoff (TU), 24-22, 21-16
No. 4 Ellie Leitko/Gabriella Becerra (TU) def. Caroline White/Jaelyn Greene (TCU), 21-19, 21-19
No. 5 Avery Arellano/Hailey Brockett (TCU) def. Morgan Esters/Kilani Daane (TU), 21-15, 21-11
Order of finish: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
No. 10 Stetson 5, Tulane 0
No. 1 Carly Perrales/Sunniva Helland-Hansen (SU) def. Kaylie McHugh/Eva Toruella (TU), 18-21, 21-16, 19-17
No. 2 Darby Dunn/Sammee Thomas (SU) def. Lauren Orlich/Tarin Mergener (TU), 21-13, 21-12
No. 3 Rachel Noble/Ana Costa (SU) def. Rio Frohoff/Gabby Vecerra (TU), 21-11, 21-10
No. 4 Alexa Richardson/Yasmin Kuck (SU) def. Haley Gibson/Ellie Lietko (TU), 21-23, 21-16, 17-15
No. 5 Rebecca Ingram/Quinci Birker (SU) def. Morgan Esters/Kilani Daane (TU), 21-12, 21-16
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