Upset of #12 Stetson Highlights 3-0 Day for Tulane

Friday, March 10

Columbia, SC

8:00 A.M.

Tulane University

UNC Wilmington

Photo by: Parker Waters

Upset of #12 Stetson Highlights 3-0 Day for Tulane

Mar 10, 2023 | Women's Beach Volleyball

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Tulane University Beach Volleyball sweeps through the opening day of the Carolina Challenge going 3-0 on Friday. The Green Wave defeated UNC Wilmington and Stephen F. Austin to begin and end the day, but the highlight of the day was a 3-2 upset over 12^th-ranked Stetson.

Tulane got off to a strong start on Friday beating the UNC Wilmington Seahawks 4-1. Simone Gibson and Ainsley Patrick paired up to pick up the first win from position five in two sets before the pairings of Lara Torruella with Savka Popovic in position four and Ashton Mares with Abby Jackson in position three each followed with two-set wins to clinch the match. From position two Samantha Mehlman and Emily Heintzelman teamed up add one more win for the Wave with a three-set victory. Heintzelman and Popovic led the attack for the Green Wave against the Seahawks each tallying 25 kills while six total players finished with double-digit kills.

In the second dual match of the day Tulane defeated No. 12 Stetson securing the win in the first three matches. Mares and Jackson got the Green Wave out to a 1-0 lead winning from position four in two sets. In position five Torruella and Popovic followed with a hard-fought win in three sets to put the Wave one win away from securing the match. Mehlman and Heintzelman stepped up to the challenge in position three to claim the match for Tulane winning in two sets. In their effort to secure the match Heintzelman and Mehlman posted strong numbers against the Hatters as Heintzelman finished with 14 kills and five blocks while Mehlman added 16 digs and 11 kills.

To wrap up the first day of the Carolina Challenge the Green Wave rolled past Stephen F. Austin 4-1 in its third matchup of the season against the Lumberjacks. The first win of the match was secured by Mares and Jackson again from position four in two sets. After Stephen F. Austin evened the score, the pairing of Sara Hall and Maddie Speicher put the Wave back in front with a two-set win in position three. Heintzelman and Mehlman locked up the win with a two-set victory before Mollie Ebertin and Kendall Peters teamed up to complete the day with a three-set win for Tulane. Ebertin led the Wave with five blocks against the Lumberjacks to go with 13 kills while her partner tallied 15 kills and 10 digs.

Tulane will finish play at the Carolina Challenge Saturday against the host school 19^th-ranked South Carolina. The match between the Green Wave and the Gamecocks is set for 10 a.m. CT.

Friday Results – March 10
Tulane 4, UNC Wilmington 1
1. Gabby LaPata/Sadie Sharkey (UNCW) def. Sara Hall/Maddie Speicher (Tulane) 21-14, 21-23, 15-10
2. Emily Heintzelman/Samantha Mehlman (Tulane) def. Grace Sistrunk/Livia Trimp (UNCW) 22-24, 21-10, 15-11
3. Abby Jackson/Ashton Mares (Tulane) def. Ellie Bucci/Sarah Thompson (UNCW) 21-16, 21-17
4. Lara Torruella/Savka Popovic (Tulane) def. Bri Haggerty/Maddy Folks (UNCW) 19-21, 21-19, 15-12
5. Simone Gibson/Ainsley Patrick (Tulane) def. Jadyn Barry/Ashley Thompson (UNCW) 21-15, 21-17
(Exh.) Molly Trodd/Sam O'Connor (Tulane) def. Kaley McLoughlin/Tyla Cutrie (UNCW) 23-21, 21-17

Tulane 3, #12 Stetson 2
1. Shae Henson/Karin Zolnercikova (Stetson) def. Mollie Ebertin/Kendall Peters (Tulane) 32-30, 22-20
2. Carolina Ferraris/Anete Namike (Stetson) def. Sara Hall/Maddie Speicher (Tulane) 21-17, 21-16
3. Emily Heintzelman/Samantha Mehlman (Tulane) def. Gabriella Bramante/Audrey Gauthier (Stetson) 21-13, 21-12
4. Abby Jackson/Ashton Mares (Tulane) def. Jenna Gathright/Lauren Della (Stetson) 23-21, 21-15
5. Lara Torruella/Savka Popovic (Tulane) def. Klea Sirois/Noelle Weintraub (Stetson) 21-19, 14-21, 15-13
(Exh.) Molly Trodd/Sam O'Connor (Tulane) def. Aleksandra Stadnik/Tori Clement (Stetson) 21-18, 18-21, 15-7

Tulane 4, Stephen F. Austin 1
1. Mollie Ebertin/Kendall Peters (Tulane) def. Natalie Bennett/Hannah Ogden (SFA) 21-16, 15-21, 15-11
2. Emily Heintzelman/Samantha Mehlman (Tulane) def. Olivia Duhon/Madison Morrow (SFA) 21-9, 21-16
3. Sara Hall/Maddie Speicher (Tulane) def. Madison Hall/Lizzie Denyer (SFA) 21-13, 21-18
4. Abby Jackson/Ashton Mares (Tulane) def. Kelly Johnson/Chloe Culver (SFA) 21-13, 21-15
5. Sophia Myers/Elaina Amador (SFA) def. Molly Trodd/Sam O'Connor (Tulane) 21-14, 21-19
(Exh.) Simone Gibson/Ainsley Patrick (Tulane) def. Rylee Erwin/Abagail Elder (SFA) 21-19, 21-19

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