YOUNGSVILLE, La. – HCU beach pulled out a 3-2 win over New Orleans to start Southland Conference play off with a win before falling to a Tulane team that was receiving votes this week in the AVCA Top-20 poll on Friday at the Sugar Beach Bash held at the Youngsville Sports Complex.
Facing their first conference opponent of the season, the Huskies (2-12, 1-0 SLC) took the opening dual against New Orleans (7-6, 0-2 SLC), 3-2. HCU's points came from
Gabi Axelrod and
Killian Armstrong at the fives (21-18, 21-14),
Mary Alper and
Tatum Lockhardt at the fours (14-21, 21-17, 15-11) and
Kristin Gilmour and
Rachel Heilbrun at the twos (21-18, 21-17). Friday morning's match was the first time for the Huskies' No. 4 and No. 2 pairs to play together. No. 3 pair
Kylann Griffith and
Paige Palmer fell in three sets (21-15, 18-21, 15-8).
In the afternoon dual vs. Tulane (12-4), two of the five matchups went to three sets. No. 1 pair
Abbey Bufkin and
Kristen Kleymeyer dropped a heartbreaker in three (19-21, 21-12, 15-13) while
Audrey Pearce and Palmer took the Green Waves' threes to a third set (13-21, 21-16, 15-13), as well.
The Huskies take on 20
th-ranked Tampa at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, Mar. 16, before wrapping up the tournament against Stephen F. Austin at 2:00 p.m.
