Wave Goes 2-0 to Open Sugar Beach Bash

Friday, March 15

Youngsville, LA

9:00 AM

Tulane University

University of South Carolina

Mar 15, 2024 | Women's Beach Volleyball

YOUNGSVILLE, La. – Tulane University beach volleyball improved its win streak to four in a row and moved to 12-4 on the season after sweeping its two duals on Friday at the Sugar Beach Bash. The Green Wave took down South Carolina in a tight matchup 3-2 before closing the first day on the sand with a 5-0 sweep of Houston Christian.

In the first dual of the day the Wave squared off against South Carolina for the 16th time in program history. After Tulane got two-set victories from Samantha Green with Skylar Ensign on court four and McKenzie Cutler with Amelia Mullen on court five, the Gamecocks evened the score at 2-2 by winning on courts one and three. The dual came down to a third set on court two and the Green Wave pair of Savka Popovic and Trinity Jackson stepped up to the challenge taking the final set 15-13 to deliver the 3-2 victory for Tulane. The win marked the Wave's second win in a row over South Carolina.

Later in the afternoon the Green Wave faced the Houston Christian Huskies for the first time since 2022. Tulane claimed an early lead again behind the play of Green with S. Ensign and Cutler with Mullen. Both pair won in two sets on courts four and five for the second time in the day. Jackson and Popovic also picked up a two-set win on court two before the duos of Sara Hall with Molly Trodd on court one and Lara Torruella with Sam O'Connor on court three secured the 5-0 sweep for the Wave with three-set victories. With the win, the Green Wave remained perfect all-time against the Huskies improving to 13-0.

Up next, the Tulane will take on Stephen F. Austin and Boise State to wrap up competition at the Sugar Beach Bash. The Wave will face the Lumberjacks at 10 a.m. followed by the dual against the Broncos at 2 p.m.

Friday Results – March 15
Tulane 3, South Carolina 2
1. Riley Whitesides/Hannah Mackenhausen (USC) def. Sara Hall/Molly Trodd (Tulane) 21-17, 21-19
2. Trinity Jackson/Savka Popovic (Tulane) def. Skylar Allen/Alison Coens (USC) 20-22, 21-16, 15-13
3. Julia Waugh/Peyton Yamagata (USC) def. Lara Torruella/Sam O'Connor (Tulane) 21-15, 19-21, 15-9
4. Samantha Green/Skylar Ensign (Tulane) def. Mckenzie Nichols/Jolie Cranford (USC) 21-12, 21-16
5. Amilia Mullen/McKenzie Cutler (Tulane) def. Morgan Downs/Sophie Bengochea (USC) 21-17, 21-10

Tulane 5, Houston Christian 0
1. Hall/Trodd (Tulane) def. Kristen Hornel/Abby Buffkin (HCU) 19-21, 21-12, 15-13
2. Popovic/Jackson (Tulane) def. Kristen Gilmoun/Rachel Heilburn (HCU) 21-13, 25-23
3. Torruella/O'Connor (Tulane) def. Audrey Pearce/Paige Palmer (HCU) 13-21, 21-16, 15-13
4. Green/S. Ensign (Tulane) def. Mary Alpee/Tatum Lockhardt (HCU) 21-18, 23-21
5. Mullen/Cutler (Tulane) def. Gabby Axelrod/Killian Armstrong (HCU) 21-10, 21-9

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