Sept. 9, 2006

Box Score

IOWA CITY, Iowa - After a slow start, the Tulane University volleyball team got on track in its final game of the Hawkeye-Holiday Inn Challenge, blanking UMKC 3-0 (30-23, 31-29, 30-17) Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. For the second consecutive match, freshman outside hitter Ksenija Vlaskovic reached the 20-kill plateau, finishing with 20, and earning a spot on the All-Tournament team.

The Green Wave also got 11 kills from sophomore middle blocker Jen Linder and eight from sophomore outside Bridget Wells and sophomore middle Lauren Boatwright. Vlaskovic hit .486 for the match, while Linder turned in a .562 hitting percentage.

"These tournaments are about learning important lessons and getting ready for conference play," head coach Liz Kritza said. "Teams that can bounce back in the next game following a game that slips away are teams that will find success later in the season.

Tulane improved through out the match, hitting .303 in game one, .359 in the second game, and .444 in game three, as the Green Wave run their record to 4-2.

Freshman setter Rachel Lindelow chipped in 31 assists and five digs, while freshman libero Jenn Miller had 14 digs.

The Green Wave cruised in game one, jumping out to a 8-2 lead and coasting home 30-23. Down 20-12 in game two, Tulane reeled off a 10-1 run and took a 2-0 lead with a 31-29 victory.

"We had some inconsistent play," Kritza continued. "But through it, there were some bright spots for us, including the play of Ksenija, who really earned her All-Tournament team award."

Earlier in the day, the Green Wave lost to Florida Atlantic in five games. In the game's other matches, Iowa beat UMKC, 3-0, and Florida Atlantic 3-2.

Tulane is in Minnesota for the Diet Coke Classic September 15-16. The tournament features a pair of teams receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25, Dayton (#30) and Minnesota (#33). Tulane takes on Dayton Friday, at 5:30 p.m., followed by Saturday matches against Minnesota and Connecticut.