Tulane University
Houston
Volleyball to Face Houston in Conference Road Trip
Feb 19, 2021 | Women's Volleyball
| TULANE GREEN WAVE (4-5 OVERALL, 2-0 AMERICAN) | |
| When: | Saturday, Feb. 20 | 2 p.m. at Houstonย (5-1 Overall, 2-0 American) Sunday, Feb. 21 | 2 p.m. at Houstonย (5-1 Overall, 2-0 American) |
| Where: | Houston, Texas | Athletics/Alumni Center |
| Stats: | Houston (Match 1) | Houston (Match 2) |
| Watch: | Houston Cougar VB Facebook |
| Notes: | Week 5 Game Notes |
| Social: | Twitterย |ย Instagramย |ย Facebook |
NEW ORLEANS โย The Tulane volleyball team (4-5, 2-0 AAC) continues on with American Athletic Conference play this week as the Green Wave head to Houston, Texas for back-to-back matches against Houston (5-1, 2-0 AAC).
The Olive and Blue will face the Cougars on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Athletics/Alumni Center. Both matches will be available for fans to watchย here.
"Even though we are just in week two of our five weeks of conference play, these two matches against Houston could end up deciding first place," head coach Jim Barnes said. "They are playing at a high level with two strong left side attackers and good middle blockers. However, we do match up well and we will be ready."
Last weekend at home, Tulane defeated Memphis 3-1 on Friday and 3-0 on Saturday, moving to 2-0 in The American and 4-5 overall in 2021. The Green Wave are now tied with Wichita State and Houston as the leaders of the AAC West Division, with each team holding a 2-0 conference record.
Defensively, freshman libero Sophia Ervanian stepped up this past weekend against the Tigers, recording 34 digs in Tulane's 3-1 win and 30 digs in Tulane's sweep. The first-year Green Wave is already making marks in the record books, as her 34 digs are the fourth most in a single match in program history and her 30 digs are the most ever in a three-set match at Tulane. Both totals surpassed the top three-set and four-set dig performances all of last season in the AAC.ย
Senior outside hitter Lexie Douglas is leading the Green Wave offensively after nine matches, totaling 121 kills to average 3.56 per set. Douglas has notched double-digit kills in eight of Tulane's nine matches this season, earning six double-doubles so far in her final season Uptown. The senior is eighth in the conference in kills per set and in points per set (4.22).
Junior setter Amanda Giardina earned her fourth double-double this past weekend against Memphis, now totaling a team-high 192 assists and 84 digs. Freshman outside hitter Mackenzie Martin has notched three double-doubles in her first season Uptown, recording 87 kills and 107 digs.
A force for the Green Wave's offense in 2021 is junior middle hitter Kayla Dinkins. Dinkins has recorded double-digit kills in four matches this season while also totaling 40 blocks. The third-year middle earned a career-high nine blocks in Tulane's four-set win over Memphis last weekend at home, now ranking fourth in the conference in blocks per set with 1.21.
The Green Wave were picked to finish second in the West Division in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Dinkins and Douglas were both named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
Houston is 5-1 and 2-0 in AAC action in 2021, most recently beating RV SMU in five sets before sweeping the Mustangs on the road. The Green Wave are 18-32 all-time against the Cougars, falling to Houston in five sets at home in 2019 before defeating them in four sets on the road. In Houston, Tulane is 6-17 against the conference opponent.
Houston leads The American in kills per set (14.57) and ranks second in the league with a hitting percentage of .263. Sophomore middle blocker Rachel Tullos is second in the conference with a .382 hitting percentage, also ranking third in blocks per set with 1.30. Sophomore outside hitter Abbie Jackson is second in the AAC with 4.48 kills per set and fourth in points per set with 4.80.
Follow Tulane volleyball on social media at @GreenWaveVBย onย Twitter,ย Instagramย andย Facebook. Follow Tulane Athletics onย Twitter,ย Facebook,ย Instagram.
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