Tulane University
AVCA Fall Collegiate Beach Championships
Beach Volleyball Secures Second Bid for AVCA National Championships
Nov 3, 2024 | Women's Beach Volleyball
HUNTSVILLE – Tulane Beach Volleyball competed in the AVCA National Collegiate Championship Central Division Qualifiers this weekend and clinched an extra bid to the AVCA National Championships, thanks to outstanding performances by McKenzie Cutler & Emily Heintzelman.Â
Only three bids to the AVCA National Championships were offered in this tournament, with one of them awarded to Cutler & Heintzelman after they placed second overall. Georgia State and the University of Alabama Birmingham will also send additional pairs after finishing first and third. Tulane will also send another pair with a previously standing bid from C-USA. Â
"We are very grateful for this weekend of competition in Huntsville!" Head Coach Eyal Zimet said. "Our team faced solid competition, while showing adaptability, resilience, creativity, perseverance, and imagination throughout the entire tournament. Our main goals of continued  growth and earning a 2nd bid to the AVCA Pairs Championships, were both accomplished.  A ton to be proud of, lots to work on, and plenty to look forward to! Roll Wave!"
HOW THEY DID IT
Saturday morning, two Tulane teams entered the bid division pool play amongst 26 other pairs. Cutler & Heintzelman finished first in their pool after defeating Eastern Kentucky and Mercer and qualified for bid division bracket play, which began Saturday afternoon. Cutler delivered a total of 11 kills, seven digs, and two aces against Mercer while Heintzelman gave 10 kills and 12 digs. Skylar Ensign and Gigi Gallegos also moved on to the bracket rounds. In their match against EKU, Gallegos had 13 kills, seven digs, and four aces while Ensign had two blocks, eight digs, seven kills, and five aces.Â
Cutler & Heintzelman's first bracket match was against North Alabama, who they swept in two sets, 21-8 and 21-7. The pair began Sunday's matches against UAB, who they also swept 21-13 and 21-17. Finally, Cutler & Heintzelman qualified for the championship match and guaranteed themselves a bid after they shut out Mercer in the semifinals.Â
The pair did not drop a set until the championship, winning 10 sets in a row throughout five matches. Georgia State beat Tulane in 3 in the final, taking the first and third 21-19 and 15-9. Cutler & Heintzelman won the second 21-13.Â
16 pairs entered the bid division from Georgia State, UAB, North Alabama, University of Tennessee at Martin, Eastern Kentucky, Mercer University, Southeastern Louisiana, Austin Peay, and Southern Mississippi. Ensign & Gallegos fell in the first round of bid division bracket play to UAB's Jasmine Haas and Olivia Stant, who went on to claim third place and the third bid to the AVCA National Championships.Â
The AVCA National Championships will take place on Nov. 15-17 back in Huntsville.Â
POOL PLAY
Tulane Beach Volleyball also participated in pool play this weekend, with pairs taking on one another outside the bid division. Against Georgia State, Teona Treskounov had five blocks, six digs, nine kills, and one ace while Molly Trodd gave eight digs, eight kills, and an ace. Versus EKU, Sara Hall had one block, six digs, 10 kills, and two aces while Samantha Green had 10 digs, 12 kills, and two aces. Against EKU, Madison Hall had 11 kills and Lily Tucker had six digs, seven kills and an ace. Against another EKU pair, Madison Hall had one block, four digs, 10 kills, and three aces while Lauren Mann had 10 digs, seven kills, and five aces.Â
TICKETS
Tickets for the upcoming men's and women's basketball seasons can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
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