Oct. 7, 2005

Final Stats

EL PASO, Texas - Senior Blair Moon and junior Sara Thorson tallied 10 kills each, and rookie middle blocker Lauren Boatwright had a season-best eight blocks, but mistakes in key situations proved to be costly as the Tulane University volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Conference USA foe UTEP Friday evening at Memorial Coliseum.

After dropping a 30-20 decision in game one, Tulane (1-5, 0-3) fought UTEP (13-5, 3-2) tooth and nail the rest of the way. The difference, however, was a pair of attack errors on game point which could have made it 29-28 in game two and tied the game at 29-all in the third stanza. Instead, the ball bounced UTEP's way, and the Miners escaped with 30-27, 30-28 victories in the final two periods.

"We played well today, but once again we had breakdowns in key situations," Tulane head coach Liz Kritza said. "This is still just our sixth match of the season, but we need to learn how to play to win. We played well point for point tonight, and once we learn to make that key play, these close losses will become wins.

"I think it is more frustrating when you losing close games because we know were right on the verge of being a good team. We improved our blocking today, which was one our goals for the week, but we did not play as well in other areas. Volleyball is a game of momentum and you have to play your best all the times."

Moon and Thorson paced the team in kills, and Thorson paced the club with eight digs. Rookie outside hitter Sara Radosevic was well below her average for kills per game with eight total on Friday, but did chip in with three aces, seven digs and four blocks.

The Green Wave defense held UTEP to a .182 attack percentage - including a 065 mark in game three - but the game came down to unforced errors where Tulane had four service, 11 reception, five ball-handling and two blocking miscues which helped the Miners' cause.

Kari Stacy led UTEP with 14 kills while Brooke Peugh was close behind with 12. Brittany Stowers paced the Miners' defense with a match-high 13 digs.

The Green Wave return to action on Friday, Oct. 14, when they travel to Dallas to take on C-USA foe SMU at 7 p.m. at Moody Coliseum. Tulane's next home match is slated for Friday, Oct. 21, when the Green Wave battle Southern Miss at 7 p.m. at the G. Rollie White Coliseum on the campus of Texas A&M.