Tulane Set to Host Green Wave Classic to Begin 2026 Campaign

Friday, August 28

NEW ORLEANS

6:30 p.m.

Tulane University

North Dakota State

Tulane Set to Host Green Wave Classic to Begin 2026 Campaign

Aug 27, 2026 | Women's Volleyball

WATCH | LIVE STATS: TULANE-NORTH DAKOTA STATE
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NEW ORLEANS – Tulane volleyball opens the 2026 season in Uptown this weekend, hosting the Green Wave Classic inside Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse. The tournament will feature the Green Wave, North Dakota State Bison, and Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles.

The contest between the Wave and the Bison is set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday while the matchup with the Golden Eagles is scheduled for 12 p.m. Sunday. On Saturday, North Dakota State and Tennessee Tech will square off in a neutral site match at 2 p.m.

The Green Wave holds a 1-1 record overall against North Dakota State, including a 1-0 mark at home. In the lone meeting between the two teams in Uptown, Tulane defeated the Bison 3-0 on Sept. 13, 2008. However, Tulane dropped its most recent matchup against the Bison 0-3 in Columbia, Missouri, on Aug. 26, 2011.

Tulane is 3-0 all-time against Tennessee Tech, with all three meetings taking place at neutral sites. In the most recent matchup against the Golden Eagles, Tulane secured the victory 3-1 in Dayton, Ohio, on Dec. 5, 2008.

Tulane enters the 2026 campaign with new head coach Derek "Dex" Schroeder after finishing the 2025 season with an 11-16 record and finishing 12th in the American Conference. The Green Wave returns six players from last season, including 2025 First Team All-Conference selection and 2026 Preseason All-Conference honoree Avery Burks. The five other returners are senior Zoe Rachow, juniors Dayla Ortiz and Amelia Haggins, and sophomores Maddy McLin and Lauryn Mack.

The Green Wave added 11 new players to the roster for the 2026 season, including six freshmen and five transfers. The six freshmen are Millie Burgess (Birmingham, Ala.), Mariel St. John (Miami, Fla.), Ziya Sista (Missouri City, Texas), Anna Fish (Brownstown, Ind.), Kailey Leonard (Alpharetta, Ga.), and Charlotte Strickland (Charleston, S.C.). The incoming transfers include Riley Tucker (Bucknell), Charlee Solomon (Jacksonville State), Bellamy Parker (South Florida), Makena Lim (Georgia), and Chloe List (Cleveland State).

About the Bison

North Dakota State enters the 2026 season coming off a 17-11 record in 2025, including a trip to the Summit League Championship semifinals. The Bison return 11 players from last season's team, including outside hitters Lauren Jansen and Zoe John, who were named to the Summit League Players to Watch list.

As a team last season, North Dakota State averaged 12.5 kills, 11.5 assists, and 13.5 digs per set. Returner Arianna Blohm ranked sixth in the Summit League in hitting percentage (.311) and seventh in blocks per set (0.97).

Get to Know the Golden Eagles

Tennessee Tech enters the weekend coming off 14-17 overall record during the 2025 campaign. The Golden Eagles were tabbed to finish seventh in their first season in the Southern Conference in the preseason coaches' poll.

At the end of the 2025 season, the Golden Eagles averaged 12.6 kills, 11.7 assists, and 14.3 digs per set. Key returner Alayna Pierce finished second on the team with 264 kills averaging 3.47 per set, which ranked fourth in the OVC.

TICKETS
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2026 season at TulaneTix.com. For questions, please contact the Tulane Ticket Office at 504-861-WAVE (9283).

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