Alabama Defeats the Green Wave in Three Close Sets

Friday, September 1

NEW ORLEANS

6:30 PM

Tulane University

1-3,0-0AAC

Alabama

4-0,0-0SEC

Alabama

Tulane

Alabama Defeats the Green Wave in Three Close Sets

Sep 1, 2023 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

In Tulane volleyball's 2023 home opener, a talented Alabama team bested the Green Wave in three close sets (25-22, 26-24, 25-22).

The Green Wave was led offensively, once again, by freshman outside hitter, Avery Burks. Burks had a career high 16 kills in the match.

Defensively, the Green Wave had multiple players with season high statistics. Graduate libero, Lauryn Burrows led Tulane in digs with 16, which also broke her season record. Redshirt sophomore, Ilayda Demirtas, also broke her season record in assisted blocks. The outside hitter finished the matched with seven assisted blocks.

In the first half of the first set, Tulane came out hot to an energetic home crowd and was leading the Crimson Tide, 15-13, which caused Alabama to call a timeout. The Crimson Tide recuperated and gained five unanswered points. The momentum Alabama was gaining did not stop the Green Wave from fighting back. Two errors from the Crimson Tide caused Tulane to be back within one point at 17-18. Alabama, however, did not allow the Green Wave to take back the momentum. The Crimson Tide kept answering all of Tulane's attacks and went up 23-19. However, the Green Wave did not give up. After a kill from sophomore middle blocker, Sabrina Skyers, a service ace from junior setter Laura Fiabane, and another kill from outside hitter, Amarachi Osuji, the Green Wave was within two at 24-22. The Crimson Tide was able to take the set however due to a Tulane attack error.

The second set was another back and forth, close battle. Tulane started off hot by jumping up, 7-3, on the Crimson Tide. Alabama however, had answers and did not give into the momentum the Green Wave was controlling. The Crimson Tide was able to take back the reigns of the set and lead 22-15. The Green Wave did not give up and ended up tying up the match at 24-24. Even though the momentum was with Tulane, Alabama was unfazed and ended up winning 26-24.

Tulane started off hot once again in the final set. They ran the score up 10-4 on the Crimson Tide. However, again, the Alabama team was not fazed and ended up tying the match at 13-13. After a lot of back and forth, the Crimson Tide gained the momentum of the set and led the Green Wave 21-16. However, the Green Wave showed the "no quit" attitude that they had been the whole night and ended up getting within two points of Alabama at 24-22. The Crimson Tide was able put the match to bed with a successful challenge and defeated the Green Wave 25-22.

Tulane will have a quick turnaround as they host Sam Houston tomorrow at 2pm in day two of the Green Wave Classic. You can watch the Green Wave on their hunt for their second win of the season on ESPN+ or at the Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse.

Follow Tulane volleyball on social media at @GreenWaveVB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.

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