Photo by: Wyatt Streett
Green Wave Ranked No. 20 in Final AVCA Poll
May 6, 2026 | Women's Beach Volleyball
NEW ORLEANS – After a historic 2026 season, the Tulane beach volleyball program caps off the campaign on a high note as the Green Wave is ranked No. 20 in the final AVCA Coaches Poll as announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association yesterday. This is the second time Tulane has been ranked in the final AVCA poll of a season since joining Conference USA after finishing the 2023 season at No. 18.
The Wave was ranked 20th in the preseason poll, but the team fell out of the top 20 following the opening weekend of play. Despite this, Tulane remained in the receiving votes section throughout the entirety of the campaign until breaking back through at No. 20 following the CUSA Championship victory. Despite a loss to eventual national champion UCLA in the National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship, the Wave does not waver and holds at No. 20 to conclude the season.
Tulane finished the campaign at 26-14, the sixth consecutive 20-win season for the Wave. Tulane won the CUSA Championship by sweeping No. 19 Florida Atlantic, the top seed in the tournament, to secure the program's first-ever conference title and subsequently first-ever appearance in the NC Beach Volleyball Championship. The Wave was seeded No. 14 for the 16-team event and matched up against No. 3 UCLA in the opening round. The Bruins earned a 3-0 win en route to the national championship, and they are at the top of the final rankings. Stanford, Texas, Florida State, and USC follow to round out the top five.
Head coach Eyal Zimet was tabbed as CUSA Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. Molly Trodd, Skylar Ensign, Katie Hansen, and Emma Morris were all named All-CUSA First Team with Amirah Ali garnering second-team honors. Trodd and Ensign were named CUSA Pair of the Tournament and earned AVCA Top Flight status at both flights one and two. Hansen and Morris earned CUSA All-Tournament recognition and AVCA Top Flight honors at the No. 2 pair. Tawny Ensign and Ali added CUSA All-Tournament Team honors.
The campaign was historic not just in terms of the firsts, but also in terms of records. Tulane notched 16 sweeps throughout the season, a new program record. Ali earned 25 wins at the third flight, the most by a Wave player ever on that court. Her and T. Ensign secured 20 wins together at the No. 3 pairing, a new program record for a pair at the third flight. Trodd and S. Ensign finish with 46 victories together, the most by a single pair in program history.
After a breakthrough 2026 season, the No. 20 Green Wave will return to the sand in the fall for preparations of a title defense in 2027.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football, volleyball, and men's and women's basketball, and baseball campaigns 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.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL TULANE ATHLETICS APP
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Tulane beach volleyball at @GreenWaveBeach on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
GREEN WAVE CLUB
Giving to the Green Wave Club provides Tulane Athletics with the resources student‑athletes need to excel in competition and in the classroom. Your support directly improves the lives of current and future Green Wave student‑athletes and enhances Tulane's competitiveness in intercollegiate athletics. Make a gift today by calling (504) 865‑5356, emailing greenwaveclub@tulane.edu, or visiting GreenWaveClub.com.
The Wave was ranked 20th in the preseason poll, but the team fell out of the top 20 following the opening weekend of play. Despite this, Tulane remained in the receiving votes section throughout the entirety of the campaign until breaking back through at No. 20 following the CUSA Championship victory. Despite a loss to eventual national champion UCLA in the National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship, the Wave does not waver and holds at No. 20 to conclude the season.
Tulane finished the campaign at 26-14, the sixth consecutive 20-win season for the Wave. Tulane won the CUSA Championship by sweeping No. 19 Florida Atlantic, the top seed in the tournament, to secure the program's first-ever conference title and subsequently first-ever appearance in the NC Beach Volleyball Championship. The Wave was seeded No. 14 for the 16-team event and matched up against No. 3 UCLA in the opening round. The Bruins earned a 3-0 win en route to the national championship, and they are at the top of the final rankings. Stanford, Texas, Florida State, and USC follow to round out the top five.
Head coach Eyal Zimet was tabbed as CUSA Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. Molly Trodd, Skylar Ensign, Katie Hansen, and Emma Morris were all named All-CUSA First Team with Amirah Ali garnering second-team honors. Trodd and Ensign were named CUSA Pair of the Tournament and earned AVCA Top Flight status at both flights one and two. Hansen and Morris earned CUSA All-Tournament recognition and AVCA Top Flight honors at the No. 2 pair. Tawny Ensign and Ali added CUSA All-Tournament Team honors.
The campaign was historic not just in terms of the firsts, but also in terms of records. Tulane notched 16 sweeps throughout the season, a new program record. Ali earned 25 wins at the third flight, the most by a Wave player ever on that court. Her and T. Ensign secured 20 wins together at the No. 3 pairing, a new program record for a pair at the third flight. Trodd and S. Ensign finish with 46 victories together, the most by a single pair in program history.
After a breakthrough 2026 season, the No. 20 Green Wave will return to the sand in the fall for preparations of a title defense in 2027.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football, volleyball, and men's and women's basketball, and baseball campaigns 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.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL TULANE ATHLETICS APP
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Tulane beach volleyball at @GreenWaveBeach on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
GREEN WAVE CLUB
Giving to the Green Wave Club provides Tulane Athletics with the resources student‑athletes need to excel in competition and in the classroom. Your support directly improves the lives of current and future Green Wave student‑athletes and enhances Tulane's competitiveness in intercollegiate athletics. Make a gift today by calling (504) 865‑5356, emailing greenwaveclub@tulane.edu, or visiting GreenWaveClub.com.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
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