Tulane University
6-8,4-3AAC
Wichita State
8-4,3-4AAC
Volleyball Defeats Wichita State, Wins 3-1 Friday in AAC Battle
Mar 12, 2021 | Women's Volleyball
NEW ORLEANS — The Tulane volleyball team (6-8, 4-3 AAC) recorded a four-set win over Wichita State (8-4, 3-4 AAC) on Friday in the Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse, moving to second place in the American Athletic Conference West Division ahead of Saturday's matchup against the Shockers.
"We had a great night offensively," head coach Jim Barnes said. "Taylor [Henigsman] did a great job running our new 5-1 offense. Both freshmen, Anna [Davis] and Mackenzie [Martin] hit incredible numbers. The level of play from both teams was very impressive. We know how important this series is and tomorrow's match could determine who makes the conference tournament."
The Olive and Blue hit .358 in the match — the team's highest attacking percentage this season — while also totaling 63 kills, 57 digs and seven blocks.
Senior outside hitter Lexie Douglas led the way for the Green Wave in the four-set victory, recording 18 kills while adding five digs and four blocks.Â
Freshman outside hitter Mackenzie Martin, freshman middle hitter Anna Davis and junior middle hitter Kayla Dinkins also shined offensively and added double-digit kills in the win, totaling 14 (.419), 11 (.625) and 10 (.350), respectively. Junior right side hitter Yvette Burcescu also added nine kills while hitting .450.
Martin notched a double-double in the match, adding 12 digs to her 14 kills. Freshman libero Sophia Ervanian totaled 21 digs in four sets of action.
Junior setter Taylor Henigsman was impressive up front on Friday, earning a career-high 54 assists while also adding four digs.
The Green Wave were off to a hot start in the match, jumping out to a 6-1 lead before the Shockers came back to tie it up at 9-9. Both teams battled back and forth before a 3-0 Tulane run put the home team ahead, 19-16, and forced a Wichita State timeout. A kill from Dinkins and a service ace from Douglas put Tulane ahead at 25-24 before a Shockers block tied the set at 25-25. A kill from Martin put the Olive and Blue at set point before a WSU ball handling error finished it out in favor of the Green Wave, 27-25.
Wichita State was ahead 9-3 early in the second set, staying on top until a 5-0 Green Wave run tied the match at 20-20. Tulane hit .464 as a team in the set but was unable to pull off the win, as the Shockers held onto their lead and closed it out with a kill at 25-23 to even the match at 1-1.
The third set was a back-and-forth battle from the start before a 3-0 Green Wave run gave the home team a five-point lead at 11-6. The Shockers came within one at 15-14 but Tulane was able to hold onto its lead as a 4-0 run closed it out for the Olive and Blue at 25-20 and gave the team a 2-1 match advantage.
Tulane came out swinging in the fourth set, taking a five-point lead at 10-5 and ultimately holding onto it to close out the set and solidify the win. Kills from Douglas, Burcescu and Dinkins sent the Green Wave on a 5-1 run to make it 16-10, with the Olive and Blue keeping their momentum going until a kill from Douglas put the team at match point and a block from Dinkins and Douglas finished it off at 25-16.
The Green Wave will be back in action on Saturday as they welcome Wichita State at 1 p.m. for a second match this weekend at the Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse.
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