Press release courtesy of Tulane Athletics.
NEW ORLEANS – A rain-soaked Saturday at White Sands Volleyball Courts could not slow the Green Wave’s roll.
Senior Madeline Mertz and sophomore Kaylie McHugh defeated No. 9 LSU’s top pair of Claire Coppola and Kristen Nuss in straight sets, and No. 19 Tulane beach volleyball swept Houston Baptist, 5-0, in its first dual of the Green Wave Invitational on Saturday. Tulane went 1-1 on the day, suffering a 3-2 loss against LSU in the second dual of the day to move its season record to 15-11 overall, 3-6 CCSA.
HOW IT HAPPENED
No. 19 Tulane 5, HBU 0
The Green Wave breezed past HBU, 5-0, to open the weekend, dropping just two sets across five flights.
Freshmen Ashley Delgado and Addison Hermstad battled to five sets against HBU’s No. 4 pair before winning 17-21, 22-20, 15-7 to give Tulane a 1-0 advantage. Freshmen Gabriella Becerra and Rio Frohoff, playing at the four, followed up their five-set battle with one of their own, fighting tooth and nail en route to a 21-17, 17-21, 17-15 win.
Mertz and McHugh picked up their 19th win of the season in a straight-set 21-19, 21-13 win against HBU’s No. 1 pair. Senior Lan Nguyen and sophomore Tarin Mergener, playing at the two, also won in straight sets, taking down HBU’s No. 2 duo by a score of 21-12, 26-24.
Junior Anna Chin and freshman Lauren Orlich earned a 21-19, 21-12 win against HBU’s No. 3 pair to clinch the sweep.
No. 8 LSU 3, No. 19 Tulane 2
Tulane’s upset bid fell just short, as Chin and Orlich fought to three sets in before ultimately dropping flight three to five LSU a 3-2 dual win.
Mertz and McHugh electrified the crowd by taking down LSU top duo in straight sets. With the dual tied at one after Frohoff and Becerra earned a 21-18, 21-18 win in flight four, Tulane’s No. 1 pair rolled to a 21-17, 21-16 win to give the Green Wave a 2-1 advantage.
LSU tied it up with a win in flight three. Nguyen and Mergener battled to the very end in the first set, losing 26-24, before going down 21-16 in the second.
All eyes then turned to the action in flight two. Chin and Orlich dropped the first set, 21-17, but rebounded with a 21-16 win in the second.
The drama continued into the third set, where Tulane and LSU’s pairs traded blows back-and-forth. Chin and Orlich trailed by as much as three, but mounted a run to tie the flight at 12 before losing 15-13.
UP NEXT
The Green Wave Invitational rolls on tomorrow. Tulane opens play at 9:30 a.m. against No. 12 Grand Canyon and at 3 p.m. against UNO. The Green Wave’s match against Central Arkansas, which was originally scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday, is moved to Sunday and will be played at a time to be announced later.
ROLL WITH THE WAVE
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 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.
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RESULTS FROM DAY ONE AT GREEN WAVE INVITATIONAL
DUAL ONE: #19 Tulane 5, HBU 0
No. 1 Madeline Mertz/Kaylie McHugh (TLN) def. Jessica Wooten/Aeriel Horton (HBU) 21-19, 21-13
No. 2 Lan Nguyen/Tarin Mergener (TLN) def. Kayla Armer/Tori Hinojosa (HBU) 21-12, 26-24
No. 3 Anna Chin/Lauren Orlich (TLN) def. Kali Fluke/Brennan Miller (HBU) 21-19, 21-12
No. 4 Addison Hermstad/Ashley Delgado (TLN) def. Bailey Banks/Katya Siveira (HBU) 17-21, 22-20, 15-7
No. 5 Rio Frohoff/Gabriella Becerra (TLN) def. Danielle Wheeler/Mikayla Vivens (HBU) 21-17, 17-21, 17-15
Exh. – Christina McAfee/Briana Correa (TLN) def. Jordyn Miller/Meagan Carter (HBU) 21-18, 21-19
Order of Finish: 6, 5, 4, 1, 2, 3
DUAL TWO: #8 LSU 3, #19 Tulane 2
No. 1 Madeline Mertz/Kaylie McHugh (TLN) def. Claire Coppola/Kristen Nuss (LSU) 21-17, 21-16
No. 2 Haleigh Nelson/Mandi Orellana (LSU) def. Anna Chin/Lauren Orlich (TLN) 21-17, 16-21, 15-13
No. 3 Olivia Powers/Hunter Domanski (LSU) def. Lan Nguyen/Tarin Mergener (TLN) 26-24, 21-16
No. 4 Rio Frohoff/Gabriella Becerra (TLN) def. Emmy Allen/Megan Davenport (LSU) 21-18, 21-18
No. 5 Riley Young/Maddie Ligon (LSU) def. Ashley Delgado/Addison Hermstad (TLN) 14-21, 21-11, 15-13
Exh. – Lilly Kessler/Kahlee York (LSU) def. Morgan Esters/Kendyl Brennan (TLN) 21-15, 21-14
Order of Finish: 6, 5, 4, 1, 3, 2
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