Oct. 9, 2003

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Tulane University volleyball team packed its best start in school history and an eight-match winning streak into its bags and hope to continue on what has been a memorable season this weekend when the Green Wave travels to Birmingham, Ala., and Tampa, Fla., to take on Conference USA foes UAB and South Florida on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

At 15-2 on the year, the Green Wave are tied for the best-ever start by a Tulane volleyball team - tying the mark set by the 1987 team that went on to set a school record for wins in a season with 33 - and are 2-0 in C-USA action for the first time since the league's inception prior to the 1995 season.

History, however, is not on Tulane's side as the Green Wave dropped their last match to the Blazers of UAB at Bartow Arena 3-0 back on Nov. 9, 2001, and are just 2-23 all-time against the Bulls of South Florida.

"All that matters right now is how well we play against these teams this weekend," head coach Betsy Becker said. "We were undefeated on the road last year in Conference USA play, and we've played extremely well overall this year. None of that really means anything, though, if we don't show up ready and focused to play UAB on Friday, and then South Florida on Saturday.

"It's like the old line from Bull Durham, 'We've got to take this one game at a time.' But these are both important matches, and I think the team will respond accordingly."

Junior middle blocker Deva Fowler paces the Green Wave attack with averages of 3.95 kills and 1.37 blocks per game while also leading Tulane with 306.0 points (kills + service aces + blocks). Fellow junior Anastasia Kenon is next with a 3.40 kills per game average and she also ranks second to senior libero Karlyn Daly in digs with an average of 3.30. Daly leads the team and Conference USA with 4.41 digs per outing.

As a team, the Green Wave are averaging 16.30 kills, 2.02 service aces, 17.82 digs and 2.58 blocks per game. UAB counters with averages of 13.59 kills, 1.72 aces, 14.01 digs and 1.86 blocks en route to a 9-9 record to up to this point.

The Blazers, 2-0 in league play, have now won four matches in a row and seven of their last 10 outings. Martina Shields leads the UAB attack with 3.51 kills per game and Breanna Swenson in second with a 2.91 mark. Shields also paces the Blazer defense with 2.84 digs per game, and Karen Boyd leads UAB at the net with 0.91 blocks per contest.

South Florida, who won the C-USA regular-season and tournament title last year, comes into the weekend 8-10 on the year and 2-0 in C-USA action after taking a pair of five-game thrillers last weekend against Charlotte and East Carolina.

The Bulls are led by Shameka Mitchell, the reigning C-USA co-Player of the Week, with 4.61 kills per game while ranking second on the team with a 0.91 blocking average. Bonnye Glover paces USF with 0.92 blocks per game, and Fran Pozzi leads the South Florida defense with an average of 2.77 digs per game.

Following the weekend's road swing, Tulane returns to The Crescent City for a Tuesday-night showdown with cross-town foe UNO on Oct. 14 before returning to the friendly confines of Fogelman Arena on Friday, Oct. 17 when the Green Wave will play host to league foe Marquette at 7 p.m.