Thursday, December 6, Results:
Box Score | Notes | NIVC Bracket | Conference Stats
Tulane 3, Valparaiso 1 | NIVC Quarterfinals
Tulane’s postseason volleyball run in New Orleans will continue, as the Green Wave (28-8, 13-5) had a record night on Thursday in a 3-1 win over Valparaiso (27-11, 11-7 Missouri Valley) in the quarterfinals of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC). The Green Wave, which owns a 17-2 home court record, will welcome the College of Charleston (24-11, 11-5 CAA) to the gym on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. ET in the NIVC semifinals. Tulane has won its past 10 home matches and becomes the first American team to advance to the fourth round of the tournament.
Hitting over .400 through the final two sets, Tulane recorded a .366 hitting percentage in the match on the way to victory. The Green Wave, which ranks fifth in the nation in opponent hitting percentage, held the Crusaders to hitting under the .200 line, recording 13 blocks and 59 digs.
Unanimous first team All-Conference right side hitter Erika Hansel pummeled a team-high 17 kills with a blistering .517 hitting percentage. Senior middle blocker Dayna Kern hit .435 with 12 kills and a match-high seven blocks. Junior libero Kaylie McHugh bumped 17 digs, while freshman middle blocker Kayla Dinkins hit .545 with seven kills and six blocks.
The Green Wave set a trio of conference records in the win, becoming The American’s all-time single-season leader in kills (1,862), assists (1,755) and blocks (345). Each mark ranks in the NCAA’s top 20 this season.
Picked to finish 10th in The American’s preseason coaches’ poll, Tulane clinched third place in the conference’s standings in 2018 and earned one of seven automatic bids to the NIVC. The Green Wave takes a five-match winning streak into Saturday’s semifinal battle. The College of Charleston defeated Clemson in straight sets in the quarterfinals on Thursday night.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Saturday, December 8 | NIVC Semifinals
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College of Charleston |
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Tulane |
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8 p.m. ET |
New Orleans, La. |