Tulane University
University of South Carolina
Beach Volleyball Drops Two on Day One of CCSA Conference Championship
Apr 19, 2019 | Women's Beach Volleyball
EMERSON, Georgia – The Tulane beach volleyball team (16-17, 7-11 CCSA) dropped two matches on Friday to open the CCSA Conference Championship, falling to No. 11 South Carolina and No. 16 Georgia State in pool play.
"We didn't play well enough to win today, yet we improved throughout the day in ways that we're optimistic will help us play better tomorrow," head coach Wayne Holly said.
The nine-seeded Green Wave are now set to face eight-seed College of Charleston in the elimination round on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. on courts one through five.
Juniors Kaylie McHugh and Eva Torruella forced three-set games in both matches in the first round of the tournament. The All-Conference duo defeated Gamecocks' Cadie Bates and Shannon Williams in set one, 21-15, before falling in the second, 14-21. The pair was just short of earning the victory, but ultimately faced a tight 13-15 loss on court one.
The two turned things around in their second time on the sand, taking down Panthers' Eden Hawes and Maddy Delmonte in a come-from-behind battle. McHugh and Torruella dropped set one, 17-21, before pulling out a 24-22 win in the second to force a tiebreaker. The pair grabbed their 20th win of the season as Tulane defeated South Carolina on court one, with a 15-12 score in set three.
Sophomore Lauren Orlich and junior Tarin Mergener also forced a third set of action against Georgia State's Lydia Dimke and Jordan Smith – winning set two, 21-17, after falling in the first, 18-21. The No. 2 duo ultimately dropped the match, recording a 10-15 mark in set three.
From the No. 4 position, freshmen Ellie Leitko and Haley Gibson battled it out in both matches on the day. Though they were unable to pull off the win, the two posted close 19-21 and 18-21 scores against South Carolina's Whitley Ballard and Jess Vastine and 20-22 and 19-21 scores against Georgia State's Becky Tresham and Maddie Gordon.
The Green Wave fell in both matches on the first day of the 2018 CCSA Conference Championship, but turned the weekend around on day two with wins over UAB and CofC.
No. 11 South Carolina 5, Tulane 0
No. 1 Cadie Bates and Shannon Williams (SC) def. Kaylie McHugh and Eva Torruella (TU), 15-21, 21-14, 15-13
No. 2 Lydia Dimke and Jordan Smith (SC) def. Lauren Orlich and Tarin Mergener (TU), 21-12, 21-9
No. 3 Hannah Edelman and Franky Harrison (SC) def. Rio Frohoff and Gabriella Becerra, (TU) 21-16, 21-14
No. 4 Whitley Ballard and Jess Vastine (SC) def. Ellie Leitko and Haley Gibson (TU), 21-19, 21-18
No. 5 Lauryn Gillis and Carly Schnieder (SC) def. Morgan Esters and Kilani Daane (TU), 21-14, 21-13
No. 16 Georgia State 4, Tulane 1
No. 1 Kaylie McHugh and Eva Torruella (TU) def. Eden Hawes and Maddy Delmonte (GSU), 17-21, 24-22, 15-12
No. 2 Mattie Johnson and Olivia Stasevich (GSU) def. Lauren Orlich and Tarin Mergener (TU), 21-18, 17-21, 15-10
No. 3 Brooke Weiner and Kate Novack (GSU) def. Rio Frohoff and Gabriella Becerra (TU), 21-12, 21-17
No. 4 Becky Tresham and Maddie Gordon (GSU) def. Ellie Leitko and Haley Gibson (TU), 22-20, 21-19
No. 5 Ashley McGinn and Kelly Dorn (GSU) def. Morgan Esters and Kilani Daane (TU), 21-18, 21-13
Follow Tulane beach volleyball on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, all-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.
