Tulane University
Houston Baptist
No. 20 Beach Volleyball Goes 2-1 Saturday to Close NOLA Classic
Mar 20, 2021 | Women's Beach Volleyball
NEW ORLEANS — The Tulane beach volleyball team (11-7, 2-6 CCSA) went 2-1 on the final day of the NOLA Classic, defeating Houston Baptist (4-1) and Spring Hill College (5-0) while falling to No. 17 Georgia State (1-4) at the White Sands Volleyball Courts.
Graduate students Tarin Mergener and Allie Olsonoski won all three matches on Saturday from the No. 2 position, defeating HBU's Brennan Miller and Maddie Butlers (21-9, 21-11), Georgia State's Mattie Johnson and Olivia Stasevich (21-15, 18-21, 15-10) and Spring Hill's Sarah Senft and Mikayla Boyer (21-16, 21-17). Mergener had 48 kills and three aces in the wins while Olsonoski had 27 kills, 13 blocks and two aces.
On court one, graduate student Eva Torruella and sophomore Kendall Peters came back to win in three sets over Houston Baptist's Kylie Bryan and Lindsay Harris (21-17, 18-21, 15-11) before defeating Spring Hill's Kassandra Fairley and Payton Gidney in straight sets (21-14, 21-12). Torruella totaled 46 kills, seven blocks and five aces after three matches, while Peters added 42 kills and three aces.
Senior Addison Hermstad and sophomore Samantha Mehlman went 2-1 on Saturday from the No. 3 spot, beating HBU's Danielle Okeke and Natalie Bennett (21-15, 21-12) and SHC's Allison Weimer and Leanne Sorell (21-9, 21-10). In the win over Spring Hill, Hermstad had 17 kills and three aces while Mehlman had eight kills and one ace.
Also going 2-1 on day two of the tournament was graduate transfer Avery Arellano and freshman Lara Torruella on court four, taking down Houston Baptist's Kristen Klegmeyer and Mary Alper (21-14, 21-11) and Spring Hill's Brooke Borgmeyer and Natalie Bonner (21-19, 21-18). Arellano totaled 41 kills, three blocks and one ace on Saturday while Torruella added 30 kills, two blocks and three aces.
Senior Morgan Esters and freshman Maddie Speicher took down Spring Hill's Patty Blood and Briley Becker on court five, with 21-9, 21-9 scores. Esters notched 15 kills, two blocks and two aces in the win while Speicher added five kills and one block.
Sophomore Ashton Mares and Speicher defeated Houston Baptist's Megan Patillo and Kylann Griffith in an exhibition match (21-14, 21-14), while Mares and senior Rio Frohoff also beat Spring Hill's Linneah Beger and Mary Coy Ward (21-12, 21-15) on court six. Mares totaled 13 kills and two aces in the wins, while Speicher added 14 kills in her match alongside Mares.
The Green Wave are set to head to Miami next weekend to compete in the FIU Tournament, matching up against FAU, FIU and Florida Gulf Coast on Friday before facing Tampa on Saturday.
No. 20 Tulane 4, Houston Baptist 1
Court 1: Eva Torruella and Kendall Peters (TU) def. Kylie Bryan and Lindsay Harris (HBU) 21-17, 18-21, 15-11
Court 2: Tarin Mergener and Allie Olsonoski (TU) def. Brennan Miller and Maddie Butlers (HBU) 21-9, 21-11
Court 3: Addison Hermstad and Samantha Mehlman (TU) def. Danielle Okeke and Natalie Bennett (HBU) 21-15, 21-12
Court 4: Avery Arellano and Lara Torruella (TU) def. Kristen Klegmeyer and Mary Alper (HBU) 21-14, 21-11
Court 5: Lauren Huggins and Alison Stanfill (HBU) def. Rio Frohoff and Gabby Becerra (TU) 21-23, 23-21, 17-15
Court 6 (Exh.): Ashton Mares and Maddie Speicher (TU) def. Megan Patillo and Kylann Griffith (HBU) 21-14, 21-14
No. 17 Georgia State 4, No. 20 Tulane 1
Court 1: Maddy Delmonte and Eden Hawes (GSU) def. Eva Torruella and Kendall Peters (TU) 21-19, 21-14
Court 2: Tarin Mergener and Allie Olsonoski (TU) def. Mattie Johnson and Olivia Stasevich (GSU) 21-15, 18-21, 15-10
Court 3: Kelly Dorn and Kate Novack (GSU) def. Addison Hermstad and Samantha Mehlman (TU) 14-21, 21-11, 15-13
Court 4: Angel Ferary and Bella Ferary (GSU) def. Avery Arellano and Lara Torruella (TU) 21-15, 26-24
Court 5: Elise Saga and Becky Tresham (GSU) def. Ashton Mares and Maddie Speicher (TU) 21-12, 21-18
Court 6 (Exh.): Maddie Gordon and Meagan McCall (GSU) def. Savka Popovic and Haley Gibson (TU) 21-14, 21-16
No. 20 Tulane 5, Spring Hill College 0
Court 1: Eva Torruella and Kendall Peters (TU) def. Kassandra Fairley and Payton Gidney (SHC) 21-14, 21-12
Court 2: Tarin Mergener and Allie Olsonoski (TU) def. Sarah Senft and Mikayla Boyer (SHC) 21-16, 21-17
Court 3: Addison Hermstad and Samantha Mehlman (TU) def. Allison Weimer and Leanne Sorell (SHC) 21-9, 21-10
Court 4: Avery Arellano and Lara Torruella (TU) def. Brooke Borgmeyer and Natalie Bonner (SHC) 21-19, 21-18
Court 5: Morgan Esters and Maddie Speicher (TU) def. Patty Blood and Briley Becker (SHC) 21-9, 21-9
Court 6 (Exh.): Ashton Mares and Rio Frohoff (TU) def. Linneah Beger and Mary Coy Ward (SHC) 21-12, 21-15
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