Green Wave Falls in Five to North Texas

Friday, October 10

New Orleans, LA

6:30 p.m.

Tulane University

9-7,1-4American

University of North Texas

13-5,3-3American

North Texas

Tulane

Photo by: Parker Waters

Oct 11, 2025 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS – In a hard-fought Friday night battle in Uptown Tulane volleyball (9-7, 1-4) suffered a 2-3 defeat against North Texas (13-5, 3-3) inside Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse.

The loss for the Green Wave is only the second defeat Tulane has suffered at home so far this season. Following the loss to the Mean Green the Wave dropped to 7-2 overall at home with 1-2 mark in conference play. Meanwhile, the North Texas earned its second consecutive victory to improve to 4-3 on the road this season.

A trio of players finished with double figures in kills for the Green Wave as Avery Burks led all players in the match with 23 kills. Her 23-kill performance marked the seventh time this season and the second time in league play she has tallied 20-plus kills. Burks also recorded 16 digs to notch her 10th double-double of the season.

Following the offensive attack from Burks were Lauryn Mack and Ava Derbes with 16 and 12 kills, respectively. Mack tallied 12 digs as well to record the second double-double of her freshman season. Derbes added a pair of assists and a pair of blocks to round out her night.

The duo of Zoe Rachow and Katherine Crosley set the table to the Tulane offense. Rachow led all players in the match with 28 assists to go with 16 digs while Crosley tallied 24 assists, 15 digs, and two service aces.

Defensively, Dayla Ortiz anchored the back line for the Green Wave with a team high 19 digs to go with five assists. Fatima Samb patrolled the net for the Tulane defense as she recorded six total blocks while adding five kills.

After the Mean Green claimed the initial advantage in the opening set, the Wave mounted a 7-1 response to take the lead 8-5. Tulane stayed in front for most of the set until North Texas battled back to tie the score 22-22. The Green Wave reclaimed the lead four times down the stretch but was unable to close out the set as the Mean Green scored the final three points to take the set 28-26.

In the second set Tulane and North Texas traded the lead eight times before the Wave managed to take a 20-18 advantage. Tulane stretched its lead to 23-20, but the Mean Green didn't go away quietly charging back to knot the score at 23-23. The Green Wave got the final push of the set, however, as a kill by Derbes secured the set 25-23 for Tulane.

Tulane scored the first two points in the third set, but North Texas mounted an answer to claim the lead and eventually put the Wave behind 7-16. The Green Wave slowly chipped away including a 6-0 run to climb back into the set down 19-20. Unfortunately, the Mean Green responded with the final five points as Tulane dropped the set 19-25.

With its back against the wall in the fourth set the Green Wave was up for the challenge. After North Texas grabbed the initial lead in the set, Tulane battled to eventually take an 18-13 advantage over the Mean Green. The Wave lead dwindled to two points briefly before Tulane rattled off four of the final five points to take the set 25-20.

In the fifth and final set Tulane fell behind early and was unable to mount a comeback ultimately losing the set 7-15 to drop the match 2-3.

UP NEXT
The Wave will host South Florida on Sunday, October 12, inside Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse. The match between Tulane and the Bulls is set for first serve at 1 p.m.

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Tickets 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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