METAIRIE, La.- After a four and a half hour delay due to weather conditions, the LSU beach volleyball team (5-3) defeated Tulane by a score of 3-2 to take their first match of the Pelican Classic at the White Sands Volleyball Courts in Metairie on Friday. With the win, it marks the first time in program history that LSU has defeated its in-state rival in Tulane.
Because of the weather, the Lady Tigers will return to action tomorrow against Spring Hill followed by matches against Missouri Baptist and UNO.
We knew (the match) was going to be a fight,” said associate head coach Russell Brock. “To come out on top for the first time ever against Tulane, I’ll take it. It was good for our program.”
No. 4 tandem Mandi Orellana and Cheyenne Wood started things off for LSU, winning in straight sets, 21-18, 21-14, to give LSU a 1-0 lead. Victoria Boraski and Riley Young tacked on the second point of the match at the five, winning in extra sets, 29-27, 13-21, 15-9.
“I think it was great for us to get the wins at the four and the five (spots),” said Brock. “To get (those points) in such a big match was important. It allowed us to get the opportunity to win in the one through three pairs. It was a battle for those three matches. Even the five went to three (sets).
No. 1 pair Katie Lindelow and Ashley Allmer fell in straight sets, 17-21, 17-21, cutting LSU’s lead to 2-1.
Helen Boyle and Lilly Kessler forced a third set at the two but were unable to pull out the victory, losing 10-21, 21-17, 13-15.
Callan Molle and Cati Leak clinched the match point for the Lady Tigers, winning in two sets on court three, 21-15, 21-14, lifting LSU to a 3-2 victory over the Green Wave.
LSU will face Spring Hill tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. in the first of three matches on Saturday.
“Any time you’re a college athlete, you would rather be playing than sitting,” explained Brock. Our job is to manage their workload. We brought enough people so they didn’t have to play back-to-back. Our job is to manage the wear and tear so it isn’t top impactful on anybody.”
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Match #4 LSU 3, Tulane 2
No. 1 Jackie Wegner/Tea Juric (TLN) def. Katie Lindelow/Ashley Allmer (LSU), 21-17, 21-17
No. 2 Madeline Mertz/Lan Nguyen (TLN) def. Helen Boyle/Lilly Kessler (LSU), 21-10, 17-21, 15-13
No. 3 Cati Leak/Callan Molle (LSU) def. Brianna Correa/Anna Chin (TLN), 21-15, 21-14
No. 4 Mandi Orellana/Cheyenne Wood (LSU) def. Christina McAfee/Miah Diirell (TLN), 21-18, 21-14
No. 5 Riley Young/Victoria Boraski (LSU) def. Hannah Holmes/Sarah Strasner (TLN), 29-27, 13-21, 15-9