Tulane Opens Tiger Beach Challenge with Two Triumphs

Friday, February 27

Baton Rouge, LA

11:45 AM

Tulane University

University of North Alabama

Photo by: Wyatt Streett

Tulane Opens Tiger Beach Challenge with Two Triumphs

Feb 27, 2026 | Women's Beach Volleyball

By: Wyatt Streett

BATON ROUGE, La. – Not far from home, the Tulane Green Wave opened the Tiger Beach Challenge with two victories Friday at LSU Beach Volleyball Stadium, dispatching North Alabama 4-1 before sweeping Houston Christian 5-0. Tulane, receiving votes in the AVCA poll and ranked No. 20 in the TruVolley rankings, has now won three-straight duals and improves to 4-3 on the campaign.

Tulane dropped only four sets on the day while winning 19 across both duals.

In the first dual of the day, the Wave squared off against North Alabama and won 4-1. The Lions only won at the third flight, a three-set battle that Sam O'Connor and Amirah Ali just lost (21-19, 18-21, 11-15). Emma Morris and Katie Hansen swept 21-19, 21-19 at the top flight, and Skylar Ensign and Molly Trodd added their own sweep at the second flight, 21-11 and 21-18. Gigi Gallegos and Avery Burks were pushed to three sets at the fourth flight, as the duo won the opening frame 21-19 before falling 21-19 to force the third frame. The decisive set was another one that came down to the wire, but the Wave tandem prevailed 15-13. At the fifth flight, Lauren Mann and Gabbi Kucinski earned a 21-15, 21-18 sweep.

Tulane closed its day in dominant fashion over Houston Christian, winning 5-0 while only dropping a single set. Hansen and Morris cruised at the top flight with set wins of 21-14 and 21-12. Trodd and Ensign won again at No. 2 with scores of 21-15 and 21-19. O'Connor and Ali rebounded at the third flight with their sweep of 21-16 and 26-24. Burks and Gallegos had to work in the first set, winning 24-22 at the fourth flight before gaining a win with more cushion in set two, 21-17. At the fifth flight, McKenzie Cutler and Giorgia Walther had to go three sets for the win. After edging out a 21-19 win in set one, Houston Christion bounced back with a 21-11 victory in the second to force a third set. The extra frame required extra points, but the Tulane tandem held firm and won 17-15 for the team sweep.

The Wave is back in action tomorrow with two more duals in the Tiger Beach Challenge. Tulane first faces UAB at 10:30 a.m. before concluding the tournament with a battle against Southern Mississippi at 3:30 p.m.

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