Volleyball: Tulane comes up short in midweek contest against Memphis

NEW ORLEANS – Tulane volleyball could not snap its losing streaking, Tuesday afternoon at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse, falling to Memphis, 3-2 (19-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-14, 12-15). The Green Wave drop to 12-9 overall, 1-7 The American.

Tulane lost the opening set, 25-19, recording a team attack percentage of .086, which limited their offensive attack. Freshman middle hitter Markenzie Benoit posted four kills in the set, while junior middle hitter Dayna Kern tallied three kills with an attack percentage of .250.

Kern continued powering Tulane’s offense, adding four more kills and helping her team win the second set, 25-17. The Green Wave held Memphis to a team attack percentage of .098 with sophomore libero Kaylie McHugh recording five digs in the set.

The Green Wave’s roll was halted in the third set, as Memphis regrouped to take the frame, 25-22. Tulane held a 20-17 lead, but struggled to close out the set, allowing Memphis to go on a final 8-2 run. Kern added two more kills (1.000 attack percentage) in the set, and McHugh recorded four digs.

With its back against the wall, Tulane responded in the fourth set to win, 25-14, and force a decisive fifth set. Benoit paced the Green Wave with two fourth-set kills (attack percentage of .667), while Memphis struggled to put together a consistent offensive attack in the frame (attack percentage of -.059).

Memphis and Tulane exchanged points in the final set, tying the score nine different times. The Green Wave, however, could not close out the match, dropping the set, 15-12, to seal their defeat. Kern finished with a team-high 12 kills (.429 attack percentage), while McHugh tallied a team-high 19 digs.

Up Next
Tulane sticks around Uptown New Orleans, welcoming USF and UCF to Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse for a 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 20, match and a 12 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 22, contest, respectively.

Season ticket packages for the 2017 season remain on sale. Tickets may be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging onto TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.

Follow Tulane volleyball on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and @TulaneAthletics on Snapchat.