Tulane Downs USF in Round One of CUSA Championship

Thursday, April 23

Youngsville, LA

1:00 PM

Tulane University

University of South Florida

Katie Hansen-Emma Morris Clinch vs USF CUSA Championship 2026

Photo by: Wyatt Streett

Tulane Downs USF in Round One of CUSA Championship

Apr 23, 2026 | Women's Beach Volleyball

By: Wyatt Streett

YOUNGSVILLE, La. – In the first round of the Conference USA Championship at Sugar Beach Thursday afternoon, No. 5 seed Tulane defeated No. 4 South Florida 3-1 as Katie Hansen and Emma Morris earned the clinching win at flight two. The Green Wave moves to 23-13 on the season with the triumph.

Tulane got off to a hot start in the dual as Amirah Ali and Tawny Ensign secured a 21-15, 21-13 sweep at the third flight. The Green Wave pulled in front 2-0 thanks to a sweep at flight four by McKenzie Cutler and Sam O'Connor. They won their sets by margins of 21-16 and 21-15. The fifth and second flights finished almost concurrently, with the No. 5 pairs ending just a hair ahead. USF's tandem earned a sweep over Lauren Mann and Avery Burks, 21-17 and 21-19, but it would be the only point the Bulls could secure. Katie Hansen and Emma Morris won their first frame 21-12 at the second flight before dropping the second set 21-11. In the third set, the Tulane tandem emerged victorious, 15-9, to clinch the dual for Tulane. The top flight of Molly Trodd and Skylar Ensign was left unfished, but the tandem was leading 9-8 in the third set when the contest concluded. They lost their first set 21-14 before pushing back to win the second 21-13.

The clinching pair of Morris and Hansen have stretched their win streak to 10 consecutive matches to tie for the longest by a Tulane tandem this season (Trodd and S. Ensign). Morris and Hansen were named CUSA Co-Pair of the Week a mere two days ago on Tuesday.

With the win, Tulane advances to the next round of the CUSA Championship to play top-seeded Florida Atlantic tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. The contest will stream on ESPN+.

Tulane 3, USF 1
1 – Molly Trodd/Skylar Ensign (TULN) vs. Zoey Mitchell/Isabella Almeida (USF) 14-21, 21-13, 9-8 (unfinished)
2 – Emma Morris/Katie Hansen (TULN) def. Cornelia Crudu/Julia Panko (USF) 21-12, 11-21, 15-9
3 – Amirah Ali/Tawny Ensign (TULN) def. Abigail Lagemann/Morgan Anderson (USF) 21-15, 21-13
4 – McKenzie Cutler/Sam O'Connor (TULN) def. Ryann Genest/Sasha Pasloski (USF) 21-16, 21-15
5 – Ariana Medchill/Kate Stewart (USF) def. Lauren Mann/Avery Burks (TULN) 21-17, 21-19
Order of finish: 3, 4, 5, 2

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