Tulane Beach Sweeps UAB, Defeats Houston Baptist 4-1 During Preseason

Press Release courtesy of Tulane Athletics

Tulane beach volleyball rolled to victory Sunday at the Green Wave Fall Invitational, recording two wins in their second preseason tournament of the fall. The Green Wave swept UAB, 5-0, before taking down Houston Baptist, 4-1.

Playing as Tulane’s No. 1 duo for the second consecutive tournament, senior Madeline Mertz and junior Anna Chin went undefeated in duals action, sweeping UAB’s top pair Saili Napolitano and Kenley Adams and HBU’s No. 1 duo Tori Hinojosa and Kayla Armer. Mertz and Chin won 21-12, 21-13 in the dual against UAB before defeating HBU’s pair, 21-17, 21-19.

Earlier this preseason at the Gulf Shores Collegiate Clash, Mertz and Chin went 5-1, earning Tulane’s best pair record of the tournament. Last season, Mertz, a preseason all-conference selection and a member of the CCSA All-Tournament Team, posted a 23-14 record, finishing the year on a five-match winning streak. Chin played in 20 matches last season, going 11-9 on the year with seven of her wins coming in straight sets.

The Green Wave’s No. 2 pair of sophomore Tarin Mergener and freshman Ashley Delgado also went undefeated Sunday, winning 23-21, 21-7 and 21-13, 21-10 against UAB’s Tressa Buckland and Kaylee McClure and HBU’s Danielle Wheeler and Brennan Miller, respectively. Last season, Mergener was named to the CCSA All-Tournament Team and posted the second-best record on the team at 27-10.

Quote
“For nearly two months, our players have worked tirelessly to grow as a team and improve their skills, so it was particularly wonderful to see them enjoy a lot of success,” head coach Wayne Holly said. “We were mentally sharp and physically strong throughout the day, and we played as well as we have all fall. I’m very proud of the people we have and the team we’re becoming.”

Follow Tulane beach volleyball on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram for live results, updates and news. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and @TulaneAthletics on Snapchat.

————
RESULTS
MATCH 1 – TULANE 5, UAB 0                             
Court 1: Madeline Mertz/Anna Chin (Tulane) def. Saili Napolitano/Kenley Adams (UAB) – 21-12, 21-13
Court 2: Tarin Mergener/Ashley Delgado (Tulane) def. Tressa Buckland/Kaylee McClure (UAB) – 23-21, 21-7
Court 3: Rio Frohoff/Lan Nguyen (Tulane) def. Erin Bognar/Rachel Evans (UAB) – 21-12, 21-16
Court 4: Addison Hermstad/Gabriella Becerra (Tulane) def. Morgan Smith/Gabbi Moreno (UAB) – 21-12, 21-19
Court 5: Forfeited by UAB

MATCH 2 – HOUSTON BAPTIST 3, UAB 2
Court 1: Tori Hinojosa/Kayla Armer (HBU) def. Saili Napolitano/Kenley Adams (UAB) def. – 21-17, 21-19
Court 2: Tressa Buckland/Kaylee McClure (UAB) def. Danielle Wheeler/Brennan Miller (HBU) def. – 23-21, 14-21, 15-11
Court 3: Kali Fluke/Meagan Carter (HBU) def. Erin Bognar/Rachel Evans (UAB) def. – 21-18, 21-19
Court 4: Morgan Smith/Gabbi Moreno (UAB) def. Jordyn Miller/Katya Silveira (HBU) def. – 22-20, 19-21, 15-8
Court 5: Forfeited by UAB

MATCH 3 – TULANE 4, HOUSTON BAPTIST 1
Court 1: Madeline Mertz/Anna Chin (Tulane) def. Tori Hinojosa/Kayla Armer (HBU) – 21-10, 21-13
Court 2: Tarin Mergener/Ashley Delgado (Tulane) def. Danielle Wheeler/Brennan Miller (HBU) – 21-13, 21-10
Court 3: Rio Frohoff/Lan Nguyen (Tulane) def. Jordyn Miller/Aeriel Horton (HBU) – 21-19, 21-14
Court 4: Addison Hermstad/Gabriella Becerra (Tulane) def. Kali Fluke/Katya Silveira (HBU) – 21-19, 21-16
Court 5: Meagan Carter/Aeriel Horton (HBU) def. Briana Correa/Kendyl Brennan (Tulane) – 16-21, 21-19, 15-12