Tulane University
Florida Atlantic University
Beach Volleyball Goes 5-0 to Close Regular Season
Apr 19, 2025 | Women's Beach Volleyball
NEW ORLEANS – Tulane Beach Volleyball went undefeated this weekend at the NOLA Classic, the final overall and home tournament of the 2025 regular season. The Wave won a total of 21 sets in a fitting grand finale to their epic 25-9 season.
Tulane started out on an incredible note, logging a ranked win against No. 18 Florida Atlantic early Friday morning. The Wave defeated the Owls 3-2 for a C-USA win with Avery Burks and Amelia Mullen. Sara Hall picked up four aces and 18 kills, while McKenzie Cutler landed seven aces.
Tulane then picked up their first sweep of the tournament with a 5-0 victory over Tarleton State. The dub was another conference win, bringing Tulane to 2-2 in C-USA play. Kara Griffin-Ruwin notched 13 kills while her partner Alexandra Hennessey put up six blocks. Samantha O'Connor dug 17 digs to add to the impressive stats.
Finally, the Green Wave shut out Southeastern Louisiana to finish day 1. Gigi Gallegos and O'Connor persevered through a grueling 66 point second set, eventually winning the standoff 34-32. Madison Hall had a season-best match with 17 kills, 13 digs, five blocks, and five aces. Her partner Lauren Mann also stunted, delivering 20 digs, 18 kills, and four aces.
Tulane set off Saturday with a 4-1 defeat of McNeese State and followed up with a 4-1 triumph over San Jose State University that afternoon. Madison Hall administered 10 aces against McNeese while Samantha Green picked up 22 digs. Mullen slammed 19 kills over the Spartans.
Emily Heintzelman, Sara Hall, Green, Griffin-Ruwin, and Madison Hall were honored in their senior day and each gave stand out performances.
The Wave will return next weekend at the C-USA tournament in Sugar Beach, LA from Thursday, April 24 to Saturday, April 26.
Tulane 3, FAU 2
- Ashleigh Adams/Marketa Svozilova (FAU) def. Emily Heintzelman/McKenzie Cutler (TUL) 21-18, 18-21, 15-13
- Julie Honzovicova/Kate McLaughlin (FAU) def. Skylar Ensign/Molly Trodd 22-20, 21-17
- Gigi Gallegos/Sam O'Connor (TUL) def. Mia Scanlon/Klaire Vandeusen (FAU) 23-21, 21-19
- Samantha Green/Sara Hall (TUL) def. Reese Edwards/Kate Stoughton (FAU) 21-16, 21-12
- Avery Burks/Amelia Mullen (TUL) def. Kendall Mignerey/Shantel Starling (FAU) 21-16, 15-21, 15-13
- Cameron Knifton/Shaye Wolf (FAU) def. Kara Griffin-Ruwin/Alexandra Henessey (TUL) 21-17, 21-16
Tulane 5, TSU 0
- McKenzie Cutler/Emily Heintzelman (TUL) def. Allison Bryant/Emma Halcomb (TSU) 13-21, 21-14, 15-9
- Gigi Gallegos/Sam O'Connor (TUL) def. Hayden Huber/Grayson Schirpik (TSU) 21-14, 21-12
- Sam Green/Sara Hall (TUL) def. Amaya Brown/Bella Parayno (TSU) 18-21, 21-11, 15-7
- Avery Burks/Amelia Mullen (TUL) def. Sofia Bendele/Christian Mitchell (TSU) 21-16, 21-9
- Alexandra Henessey/Kara Griffin-Ruwin (TUL) def. Charlize Ching/Camilla Chun (TSU) 21-13, 21-10
Tulane 5, SLU 0
- McKenzie Cutler/Emily Heintzelman (TUL) def. Alexis Logarbo/Mia McKinney (SLU) 21-14, 21-15
- Skylar Ensign/Molly Trodd (TUL) def. Makayla Hicks/Mia Sauers 21-11, 21-13
- Gigi Gallegos/Sam O'Connor (TUL) def. Gabriela Hrubanova/Maggie Paiva (SLU) 21-17, 34-32
- Samantha Green/Sara Hall (TUL) def. Ysabella Lockwood/Kennedi Steele (SLU) 18-21, 21-17, 15-13
- Madison Hall/Lauren Mann (TUL) def. Anne Brauckmiller/Aspen Steele (SLU) 21-14, 18-21, 15-11
- Kara Griffin-Ruwin/Alexandra Hennessey (TUL) def. Taylor Stockwell/Emmaleigh Vincent (SLU) 21-10, 21-15
TULANE 4, MCNEESE 1
- McKenzie Cutler/Emily Heintzelman (TUL) def. Stavroula Papazoglou/Reese Russell-Frayer (MCN) 21-15, 21-11
- Skylar Ensign/Molly Trodd (TUL) def. Rylee Lansing/Kendall Osgood (MCN) 21-9, 21-16
- Jackie McGee/McKenzie Moore (MCN) def. Sara Hall/Samantha Green 13-21, 21-14, 15-10
- Madison Hall/Lauren Mann (TUL) def. Bethanie Durant/McKenna Malone (MCN) 21-14, 21-14
- Kara Griffin-Ruwin/Alexandra Hennessey (TUL) def. Luciana Chuong/Harlee Tupper (MCN) 21-14, 21-14
- Avery Buks/Amelia Mullen (TUL) def. Kaylene Gohmann/Jolie Savoie (MCN) 21-10, 21-13
TULANE 4, SJSU 1
- McKenzie Cutler/Emily Heintzelman (TUL) def. Kiara Edwards/Sabrina Moore (SJSU) 20-22, 21-14, 15-9
- Skylar Ensign/Molly Trodd (TUL) def. Jada Hall/Randilyn Reeves (SJSU) 21-14, 21-15
- Kylee Moore/Anna Salmon (SJSU) deef. Gigi Gallegos/Sam O'Connor (TUL) 21-17, 13-21, 16-14
- Avery Burls/Amelia Mullen (TUL) def. Addison DeMarse/Elon Milroy (SJSU) 24-22, 21-14
- Kara Griffin-Ruwin/ALexandra Hennessey (TUL) def. Allie Dale/Aubrey McBride (SJSU) 21-16, 13-21, 15-12
- Grace Baker/Jordan Hickerson (SJSU) def. Tara Gaspar/Madison Hall (TUL) 22-20, 21-19
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